Of the 21 bills that Gov. Schwarzenegger signed yesterday, one requires the state to take an important step toward developing a new strategic vision for the State Department of Fish and Game and the Fish and Game Commission. Assembly Bill 2376, sponsored by Assemblyman Jared Huffman, creates a blue ribbon commission to review the department's mission and make recommendations for a possible overhaul. The bill reflects a growing consensus among all stakeholders that the Department of Fish and Game is not meeting the 21st Century challenges it faces. They point to inconsistent stewardship of threatened and endangered species, lax enforcement, uneven management of public lands, and uncertain funding. Audubon California worked hard to help get this bill passed because we believe that a properly functioning Department of Fish and Game is essential to protecting the state’s natural wonders. The signing of this bill is a big step toward that goal.