BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 789
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          CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
          AB 789 (Williams)
          As Amended  June 18, 2013
          Majority vote
           
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          |ASSEMBLY:  |76-0 |(April 25,      |SENATE: |33-0 |(July 8, 2013) |
          |           |     |2013)           |        |     |               |
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           Original Committee Reference:    W., P. & W.

          SUMMARY  :  Modifies trapping laws to prohibit the use of  
          body-crushing traps, also known as conibear-type traps, that are  
          larger than six inches by six inches except in water or wetland  
          areas; requires the posting of signs warning to keep out of  
          publicly-accessible areas where traps are set; and, prohibits  
          the killing of trapped mammals by intentional drowning unless  
          from a lawfully set submerged trap, injection with chemicals  
          other than for euthanasia, or chest crushing.

           The Senate amendments  delete a general definition of "managed  
          wetland" and, instead, incorporate a California Code of  
          Regulations wetland definition restricting the use of  
          conibear-type traps greater than eight inches by eight inches to  
          submerged areas or wetland areas, as defined.  The Senate  
          amendments also make other minor technical changes.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :  According to the Assembly Appropriations  
          Committee analysis, one-time minor, absorbable cost to the  
          Department of Fish and Wildlife to update trap testing materials  
          and trapping licenses.  According to the Senate Appropriations  
          Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.

           COMMENTS  :  The wetland definition in this bill, as passed in the  
          Assembly, was meant to restrict the locations where  
          body-crushing traps that were larger than six inches by six  
          inches could be set.  The purpose was to avoid the killing of  
          non-target animals like dogs, while still allowing larger traps  
          that could catch mammals like beaver, both underwater and in  
          adjacent wetland areas.  The Senate deleted the general  
          definition of managed wetlands as it could have affected  
          projects and programs unrelated to trapping.  Instead, this bill  
          now references a California Code of Regulations subsection  
          restricting the placement of conibear-type traps greater than  








                                                                  AB 789
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          eight inches by eight inches to submerged areas or wetland  
          areas, as described.


           Analysis Prepared by  :    Tina Cannon Leahy / W., P. & W. / (916)  
          319-2096 


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