BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 711
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Date of Hearing: May 8, 2013
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
AB 711 (Rendon) - As Amended: April 17, 2013
Policy Committee: Water, Parks and
Wildlife Vote: 9-5
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
Yes Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill requires nonlead ammunition for shooting wildlife in
California. Specifically, this bill:
1)Requires nonlead ammunition for the taking of all wildlife in
California, including game mammals, game birds, nongame birds,
and nongame mammals, with any firearm.
2)Requires the Fish and Game Commission (FGC), by July 1, 2014,
to certify, by regulation, nonlead ammunition for these
purposes. This bill also expands the FGC's existing authority
statewide to establish a process to provide hunters with
nonlead ammunition at no or reduced charge.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)Minor costs, probably less than $50,000 for DFW to develop
regulations to certify ammunition as nonlead and distribute
educational materials.
2)Extending current nonlead enforcement would result in minor,
if any, additional costs for the law enforcement division of
DFW.
COMMENTS
1)Rationale. According to the author, 50 years of research
concludes that lead in the environment poses an ongoing threat
to public health and California's wildlife species. Lead is
recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and the United
States Environmental Protection Agency as toxic to both humans
AB 711
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and animals. Lead is a known toxin that causes serious health
and behavior problems for adults and children.
Requiring hunters to use nonlead ammunition throughout the
state will reduce the amount of lead released into the
environment, while not affecting the quality of the hunting
experience.
2)Background. In 2007, the Legislature enacted AB 821 (Nava)
to require the use of nonlead ammunition in specific areas in
and around the habitat of the California condor. Since then,
the number of hunting licenses issued by DFW has slightly
increased. University of California, Davis studies reveal a
correlation between the condor lead ban and lower blood lead
levels in turkey vultures and golden eagles.
3)Support. Numerous veterinarians and environmental
organizations note over 500 scientific studies documenting
that more than 130 wildlife species are negatively affected by
lead ammunition. In addition to the negative impact of lead
on bald eagles, golden eagles, and condors, humans are also
negatively impacted through the consumption of meat
contaminated by lead ammunition.
4)Opposition. Numerous firearm and hunting organizations
contend there is a lack of affordable lead ammunition
alternatives for hunting. Opponents also claim that some
alternatives to lead-based ammunition, particularly for .22
long rifles, may be banned by the federal Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as armor piercing ammunition.
If a significant number of hunters stop buying hunting
licenses due to the ban or the unavailability of nonlead
alternatives, restoration funds from license fees could
decrease.
Further, opponents assert the Fish and Game Commission, rather
than the Legislature, is the proper forum for a discussion of
a statewide ban.
Analysis Prepared by : Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)
319-2081
AB 711
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