SACRAMENTO – Californians now have the option of helping save the California Sea Otter when filing their 2006 income tax forms via a new voluntary contribution option on Form 540.

A result of last year’s AB 2485, jointly authored by Assemblymembers John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) and Dave Jones (D-Sacramento), and signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger, the California Sea Otter Fund directs voluntary contributions to the California Coastal Conservancy and the Department of Fish and Game, where each agency will be allocated 50% of the donated funds.

“I’m pleased tax filers have a new way to support sea otter protection efforts that are focused on research and enforcement,” said Mr. Laird.

The California Coastal Conservancy will use the contributions for research and programs related to the near-shore ecosystem, including sea otters. The Department of Fish and Game will use the contributions to establish a sea otter fund for increased investigation, prevention, and enforcement action.

The California Sea Otter Fund joins the following existing tax check-offs:

CA Seniors Special Fund
Alzheimer’s Disease/Related Disorders Fund
CA Fund for Senior Citizens
Rare and Endangered Species Preservation Program
State Children’s Trust Fund for the Prevention of Child Abuse
CA Breast Cancer Research Fund
CA Firefighters’ Memorial Fund
Emergency Food Assistance Program Fund
CA Peace Officer Memorial Foundation Fund
CA Military Family Relief Fund
Veterans’ Quality of Life Fund
CA Sexual Violence Victim Services Fund
CA Colorectal Cancer Prevention Fund

Web link to Form 540: http://www.ftb.ca.gov/forms/06_forms/06_540.pdf