(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Legislation authored by Assemblymember Bill Monning (D-Carmel) to protect California's threatened sea otter population passed the California State Assembly earlier this week with a 72 to 3 vote.

Assembly Bill (AB) 971 would keep the California Sea Otter Fund voluntary tax check-off program in place for another five years. Money collected from the voluntary tax check-off program supports research and protection efforts for sea otters. Legislation enacted in 2006 created the initial program.

"Given the recent information that the sea otter population remains in trouble, it is important to extend the tax check-off option through the passage of AB 971 in order for taxpayers to be able to voluntarily assist the state in helping to protect them," stated Monning.

The California Sea Otter Fund supports researchers in their efforts to study and protect the threatened population of sea otters in California. Today, fewer than 3,000 sea otters exist along the state's coastline—one-fifth of the historic population. The Fund is a primary source of funding for sea otter field research.

The measure is now in the Senate where it will be referred to a policy committee for action. AB 971 is co-sponsored by the Defenders of Wildlife and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. For more information on the check-off visit http://www.defenders.org/seaotter/taxday.

Assemblymember Monning was first elected to represent the 27th Assembly District in 2008 and re-elected in 2010. The 27th Assembly District includes the Counties of Monterey, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz. Prior to his election to the Assembly, Assemblymember Monning was a professor at the Monterey College of Law and a Professor of International Negotiation and Conflict Resolution at the Monterey Institute of International Studies.

Contact: Bethany Westfall (916) 319-2027, Rachel Goodman (831) 425-1503