BILL NUMBER: AB 2110	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 23, 2006

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Hancock

                        FEBRUARY 17, 2006

   An act to add Section 597.4 to the Penal Code, relating to crimes.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2110, as amended, Hancock  Animal cruelty: dogs: field
coursing.
   Existing law makes it a crime to commit animal cruelty, as
specified.
   This bill would provide, in addition, that any person who
knowingly engages in any activity in which a dog is left untethered
and allowed to track and pursue any rabbit, hare, or fox and that
results in the injury or death of the rabbit, hare, or fox is guilty
of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for a
period not to exceed 6 months, by a fine not to exceed $1,000, or by
both that imprisonment and fine. The bill would provide that nothing
in its provisions shall prohibit the use of dogs in the management of
livestock or  for  hunting,  or  as
permitted;   the use of dogs for  the training of dogs,
or  for  the use of equipment in the training of dogs, for
any purpose not prohibited by law ; or the use of dogs to take
animals injuring growing crops or other property, as specified 
. By creating a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated
local program upon local governments.
  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.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 597.4 is added to the Penal Code, to read:
   597.4.  (a) Any person who knowingly engages in  live 
field coursing is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment
in a county jail for a period not to exceed six months, by a fine not
to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that
imprisonment and fine.
   (b) For the purposes of this section,  "field 
 "live field  coursing" includes any activity in which a dog
is left untethered and allowed to track and pursue any rabbit, hare,
or fox and that results in the injury or death of the rabbit, hare,
or fox.
   (c) Nothing in this section shall prohibit any of the following:
   (1) The use of dogs in the management of livestock, as defined by
Section 14205 of the Food and Agricultural Code, by the owner of the
livestock, by the owner's employees or agents, or by other persons in
lawful custody of the livestock.
   (2) The use of dogs in hunting as permitted by provisions in the
Fish and Game Code, including, but not limited to, Section 
3286, 3509, 3510, 4002, or 4756 of the Fish and Game Code, and by the
rules and regulations of the Fish and Game Commission. 
 4756 of the Fish and Game Code. 
   (3) The training of dogs, or the use of equipment in the training
of dogs, for any purpose not prohibited by law.  
   (4) The use of dogs to take animals injuring growing crops or
other property, as set forth in Section 4152 of the Fish and Game
Code, by the owner of the property or the owner's employees or
agents; provided, however, that no more than one dog may be used at a
time to take any animal pursuant to Section 4152 of the Fish and
Game Code or this paragraph. 
  SEC. 2.  No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the
Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the
meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution.