Bill Text: CA AB1041 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Wildlife: white sage: taking and possession.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2024-02-01 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB1041 Detail]
Download: California-2023-AB1041-Introduced.html
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 1041
| Introduced by Assembly Member Ramos |
February 15, 2023 |
An act to add Section 2025 to the Fish and Game Code, relating to wildlife.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1041, as introduced, Ramos.
Wildlife: white sage: taking and possession.
Under existing law, it is unlawful to uproot, remove, harvest, or cut dudleya, as defined, from land owned by the state or a local government or from property not their own without written permission from the landowner in their immediate possession, except as provided, and to sell, offer for sale, possess with intent to sell, transport for sale, export for sale, or purchase dudleya uprooted, removed, harvested, or cut in violation of that provision. Existing law establishes specified criminal penalties for a violation of those provisions.
This bill would extend those same prohibitions to white sage and would subject a violation of those prohibitions to the same criminal penalties established for dudleya. The bill, with respect to state and local property, would exempt the harvest and use of white sage for traditional tribal, cultural, or spiritual
purposes by a member of a Native American tribe, as specified.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YESBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 2025 is added to the Fish and Game Code, to read:2025.
(a) For purposes of this section, “white sage” means the plant white sage (salvia apiana).(b) Except as provided in subdivision (d), it is unlawful to uproot, remove, harvest, or cut white sage from land owned by the state or a local government or from property not one’s own without written permission from the landowner in one’s immediate possession.
(c) It is unlawful to sell, offer for sale, possess with intent to sell, transport for sale, export for sale, or purchase white sage uprooted, removed, harvested, or cut in violation of subdivision (b).
(d) (1) A person or entity that holds a license
or permit pursuant to Section 1002 may take white sage consistent with that license or permit.
(2) The prohibitions set forth in subdivisions (b) and (c), with respect to state or local property, do not apply to white sage harvested or used, or both, for traditional tribal, cultural, or spiritual purposes by a member of a federally recognized Native American tribe or a nonfederally recognized California Native American tribe listed on the California Tribal Consultation List maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission.
(e) Notwithstanding Section 12000, for a violation of this section, or any rule, regulation, or order adopted pursuant to this section, the following criminal penalties shall be imposed:
(1) For a first conviction, where the total value is two hundred fifty dollars ($250) or more, the offense
shall be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than five thousand dollars ($5,000) and not more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six months, or by both the fine and imprisonment.
(2) For a second or subsequent conviction, the offense shall be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) and not more than five hundred thousand dollars, ($500,000), imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six months, or by both the fine and imprisonment.
(f) In addition to, and separate from, any criminal penalty provided for under subdivision (e), where applicable, the cost of replanting any white sage forfeited pursuant to subdivision (g), may be imposed by the court.
(g) Upon conviction or other entry of judgment for a
violation of this section, any seized white sage shall be forfeited to the department.
(h) Notwithstanding Section 802 of the Penal Code, prosecution of an offense punishable under this section shall be commenced within three years after commission of the offense.
