BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 769|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
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CONSENT
Bill No: SB 769
Author: Fuller (R), et al
Amended: 4/25/11
Vote: 4/5 - Urgency
SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER COM. : 9-0, 4/26/11
AYES: Pavley, La Malfa, Cannella, Evans, Fuller, Kehoe,
Padilla, Simitian, Wolk
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8
SUBJECT : Mountain lions: display or exhibition
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill establishes an exemption for the
possession of a mountain lion carcass or any part or
product of a mountain lion carcass, if the carcass or
carcass part or product is prepared or being prepared for
display or exhibition, for a bona fide scientific or
education purpose, at a nonprofit or government-owned
museum generally open to the public or at an educational
institution, if the mountain lion was taken in California
consistent with the requirements of the California Wildlife
Protection Act of 1990 and any other applicable law and was
provided to the museum or educational institution by the
Department of Fish and Game.
ANALYSIS : In 1990, California voters passed Proposition
117 the California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990 (CWPA).
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Among its provisions, the CWPA established that
California's mountain lions are a "specially protected
species" and barred their hunting. Under the CWPA,
mountain lions may be killed under the following
circumstances only:
If a depredation permit is issued to take a
specific lion known to attack and injure or kill
livestock or pets.
To preserve public safety.
To reduce the threat to endangered Bighorn sheep.
This bill:
1. Updates the genus to "puma".
2. Allows legally-possessed mountain lion carcasses or
parts thereof provided by the Department of Fish and
Game (DFG) to be prepared for display or exhibition for
scientific or education purposes at a non-profit or
government-owned museum or at an educational
institution, including public or private postsecondary
ones.
3. Declares these amendments are consistent with and
further the purposes of the California Wildlife
Protection Act of 1990.
Background
The CWPA only permits the possession and sale of mountain
lions and mountain lion parts obtained prior to its
passage. All other mountain lion carcasses must be turned
over to the DFG.
Although the population estimate is uncertain, roughly
4,000 - 6,000 mountain lions are thought to live in
California. Annually, about 110 mountain lions are legally
killed on average with the following breakdown:
97 under depredation permits (45 percent of the 218
permits issued, based on 20 years of data).
Nine to protect public safety (based on 2001 - 2008
data).
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Two to protect Bighorn sheep through the Sierra
Sheep program (based on 10 years of data).
Further, an unknown number of mountain lions are killed
annually by motor vehicles.
Comment
Due to the provisions of the California Wildlife Protection
Act of 1990, this bill requires a 4/5s vote for passage.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
CTW:do 5/10/11 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: NONE RECEIVED
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