Bill Text: CA AB8 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Assembly Bill 8 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Mountain lions: depredation permits.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2018-02-01 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB8 Detail]

Download: California-2017-AB8-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 8

Introduced by Assembly Member Bloom

December 05, 2016

An act to amend Section 4803 of the Fish and Game Code, relating to mountain lions.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 8, as introduced, Bloom. Mountain lions: depredation permits.

Proposition 117, an initiative measure approved by the voters at the June 5, 1990, statewide direct primary election, enacted the California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990. The act establishes that the mountain lion is a specially protected mammal under the laws of this state, and makes it unlawful to take, injure, possess, transport, import, or sell a mountain lion or a product of a mountain lion. The act authorizes a person whose livestock or other property is being or has been injured, damaged, or destroyed by a mountain lion to report that fact to the Department of Fish and Wildlife and request a permit to take the mountain lion. The act requires the department or a specifically authorized animal damage control officer to immediately confirm the reported depredation by a mountain lion, and then promptly issue a permit to take the mountain lion.

This bill would authorize, rather than require, the issuance of a permit under these circumstances.

The California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990 prohibits the Legislature from changing the act, with specified exceptions, except by a ⁴/₅ vote of the membership of both houses of the Legislature and then only if consistent with, and in furtherance of, the purposes of the act.

This bill would declare that it is consistent with, and furthers the purposes of, that act.

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

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

SECTION 1.

Section 4803 of the Fish and Game Code is amended to read:

4803.

Upon receipt of a report pursuant to Section 4802, the department, or any animal damage control officer specifically authorized by the department to carry out this responsibility, shall immediately take the action necessary to confirm that there has been depredation by a mountain lion as reported. The confirmation process shall be completed as quickly as possible, but in no event more than 48 hours after receiving the report. If satisfied that there has been depredation by a mountain lion as reported, the department ~~shall~~ may promptly issue a permit to take the depredating mountain lion.

SEC. 2.

The Legislature finds and declares that the provisions of this act are consistent with, and further the purposes of, the California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990.