Bill Text: CA AB1762 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: State parks: visitors: animals: dogs.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 8-0)

Status: (Passed) 2018-09-29 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 908, Statutes of 2018. [AB1762 Detail]

Download: California-2017-AB1762-Amended.html

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Amended  IN  Assembly  February 28, 2018

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 1762

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Introduced by Assembly Member Steinorth
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Acosta, Chen, Flora, Harper, Lackey, and Mathis)
(Coauthor: Senator Nguyen)

January 04, 2018

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An act to amend Section 5008.1 of the Public Resources Code, relating to state parks.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 1762, as amended, Steinorth. State parks: visitors: animals.

Under existing law, the Department of Parks and Recreation administers and manages the state park system. Existing law permits visitors to bring animals into units of the state park system when the Director of Parks and Recreation determines that it is in the public interest. Existing law prohibits an animal brought into a state park system unit from being allowed to pose a threat to public safety and welfare, create a public nuisance, or pose a threat to the natural or cultural resources of the unit or to the improvements at the unit.

This bill would permit visitors to bring animals into units of the state park system or recreational areas of those units, including hiking trails, unless limiting access to a unit or recreational area is the only means of preventing those animals from engaging in units. The bill would require the director to develop fines, rules, and regulations to mitigate or prevent any behavior by those animals that is likely to may pose a substantial threat to public safety and welfare, create a substantial public nuisance, or pose a substantial threat to the natural or cultural resources of the unit or to the improvements at the unit. The bill would require the department to rely on fines, fee authority, rules, and regulations, whenever available, to prevent these harms in lieu of limiting access pursuant to these provisions.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Section 5008.1 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:

5008.1.

 (a) Visitors to units of the state park system may bring animals into those units and into recreational areas of those units, including hiking trails, unless limiting access to a unit or recreational area is the only means of preventing those animals from engaging in behavior that is likely to do any of the following: units.

(b) Any animal brought into a state park system unit pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be under the immediate control of the visitor or shall be confined.

(c) The director shall develop fines, rules, and regulations to mitigate or prevent any behavior by an animal brought into a state park system unit pursuant to subdivision (a) that may do any of the following:

(1) Pose a substantial threat to public safety and welfare.

(2) Create a substantial public nuisance.

(3) Pose a substantial threat to the natural or cultural resources of the unit or to the improvements at the unit.

(b)Any animal brought into a state park system unit pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be under the immediate control of the visitor or shall be confined.

(c)The department shall rely on fines, fee authority, rules, and regulations, whenever available, to prevent the harms specified in subdivision (a) in lieu of limiting access pursuant to that subdivision.

(d) The department may require a person bringing an animal into a state park system unit pursuant to subdivision (a) to provide proof of appropriate immunizations and valid licenses.

(e) This section does not apply to dogs used to lawfully pursue game in season at units of the state park system where hunting is allowed.