BILL NUMBER: SB 1166 CHAPTERED BILL TEXT CHAPTER 389 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 27, 2008 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 27, 2008 PASSED THE SENATE MAY 15, 2008 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY JULY 15, 2008 AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 12, 2008 AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 24, 2008 INTRODUCED BY Senator Cox FEBRUARY 7, 2008 An act to amend Section 10514 of, and to add Section 10844 to, the Fish and Game Code, relating to game refuges. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 1166, Cox. Game refuges. (1) Existing law permits all officers and employees of the department and all game wardens to enter a game refuge in performance of their duties. This bill would add a provision permitting law enforcement officers to enter a game refuge while in the performance of their duties. (2) Existing law enumerates 21 specific game refuges, and describes their boundaries, including the California Sea Otter and Farallon Islands refuges. This bill would require the Department of Fish and Game to undertake prescribed education and outreach efforts, including efforts regarding the potential closure of all state game refuges other than 2 specified refuges. The department would be required to provide an opportunity for public comment. The bill would require the department, on or before January 1, 2011, to prepare and submit to the Legislature a report on those efforts and a summary of any information provided by the public that is relevant to the potential closure of those state game refuges. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 10514 of the Fish and Game Code is amended to read: 10514. All state game refuges shall, for all purposes of protecting birds, mammals, fish, or amphibia thereon, be under the control and management of the department, and the officers and employees of the department, all game wardens, and law enforcement officers may at all times enter in and upon such refuges in the performance of their duties. SEC. 2. Section 10844 is added to the Fish and Game Code, to read: 10844. (a) The department shall undertake appropriate education and outreach regarding the current location of existing game refuges, agency contacts for statutory notices in Sections 10506 and 10507, and the potential closure of all state game refuges, except the California Sea Otter Game Refuge and the Farallon Islands Game Refuge. The department shall provide an opportunity for public comment concerning the potential elimination of game refuges. The department shall provide information about game refuge boundaries, including, but not limited to, maps available both on the department' s Internet Web site and in hardcopy format. The department shall also provide Internet Web site contact information for the public to contact the department in accordance with state law. The department may conduct regional workshops as it determines to be necessary to provide public information about the proposed elimination of game refuges. (b) The department, on or before January 1, 2011, shall prepare and submit to the Legislature a description of the public education and outreach effort undertaken pursuant to subdivision (a), and a summary of any information provided by the public that is relevant to the potential closure of all state game refuges except the California Sea Otter Game Refuge and the Farallon Islands Game Refuge.