BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                           
           AB 821
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          CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
          AB 821 (Nava)
          As Amended July 11, 2007
          Majority vote
           
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          |ASSEMBLY:  |42-32|(May 14, 2007)  |SENATE: |23-15|(September 4,  |
          |           |     |                |        |     |2007)          |
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           Original Committee Reference:    W., P. & W.

          SUMMARY  :  Enacts the Ridley-Tree Condor Preservation Act  
          requiring the use of non-lead centerfire rifle and pistol  
          ammunition when taking big game or coyotes within specified  
          areas.

           The Senate amendments make clarifying changes, to:

          1)Clarify that the requirement to use nonlead ammunition when  
            taking big game applies when the game is being taken with a  
            rifle or pistol.

          2)Clarify the specific areas which are excluded from the  
            requirement to use non-lead ammunition.

          3)Extend the date by which the Fish and Game Commission (FGC) is  
            required to establish a process for certification of nonlead  
            ammunition from January 1, 2008 to July 1, 2008.

          4)Provide that it shall be the responsibility of the Department  
            of Finance to determine if sufficient funding is available to  
            implement the coupon program for free or reduced charge  
            nonlead ammunition authorized by this bill.

           EXISTING LAW  :

          1)Requires FGC to establish lists of endangered and threatened  
            species.  Prohibits the taking of any species FGC has  
            determined to be an endangered or threatened species with  
            limited exceptions.

          2)Designates the California condor as a fully protected species  
            under California state law.  The condor is also listed as  








                                                                           
           AB 821
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            endangered under both federal and state law.

          3)Prohibits, by United States Fish and Wildlife Service  
            regulation, the use of lead ammunition to hunt waterfowl.

           AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY  , this bill required the use of nonlead  
          ammunition when taking big game in certain hunting zones,  
          excluding specified areas in certain counties.  

           FISCAL EFFECT  :  According to the Senate Appropriations  
          Committee, minor primarily absorbable costs to the Department of  
          Fish and Game (DFG) to certify ammunition, complete regulations,  
          respond to public comments, file a report, and provide  
          notifications to hunters.  Potential one-time costs for  
          equipment related to enforcement, potentially in the range of  
          $50,000 to $100,000.

           COMMENTS  :  This bill seeks to reduce threats to the survival of  
          California condors by requiring the use of nonlead ammunition  
          when taking big game in the California condor range.  The  
          California condor, North America's largest terrestrial bird, is  
          designated as a fully protected species under state law, and has  
          been the subject of a well-known and costly captive breeding  
          program designed to save the species from extinction.  Condors  
          are scavengers and feed primarily on dead carrion, which has  
          been the source of ingested lead ammunition fragments.  Studies  
          have identified lead poisoning as one of the most significant  
          threats to condor survival.  The objective of this bill, by  
          prohibiting the use of lead ammunition in the condor range, is  
          to increase the survival rates of condors in the wild.  

          The Senate amendments to the provisions defining which areas of  
          the state are subject to the nonlead ammunition requirement are  
          clarifying and consistent with the Assembly version.  The Senate  
          amendment extending the deadline for FGC to establish a  
          certification process allows time for adoption of regulations.    
            


           Analysis Prepared by :  Diane Colborn / W., P. & W. / (916)  
          319-2096  


          FN: 0002124  








                                                                           
           AB 821
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