BILL ANALYSIS Ó Bill No: AB 2364 SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION Senator Lou Correa, Chair 2013-2014 Regular Session Staff Analysis AB 2364 Author: V. Manuel Perez As Amended: March 26, 2014 Hearing Date: June 10, 2014 Consultant: Art Terzakis SUBJECT State Amphibian: California red-legged frog DESCRIPTION AB 2364 designates the California red-legged frog (a.k.a., Rana draytonii) as the official state amphibian. EXISTING LAW Existing law designates the following as official state insignia: State Flower - "Golden Poppy" (Added by Stats.1903, c. 69) State Bird - "California Valley Quail" (Added by Stats.1931, c. 777) State Tree - "California Redwood" includes both the coast redwood (Sequoia empervirens) and the Sierra big tree (Sequoia gigantea) - (Added by Stats.1943, c. 134; Amended by Stats.1953, c. 1140) State Theatre - "Pasadena Playhouse" (Added by Stats.1937, Res. Chapter 45) State Fish - "California Golden Trout" (Added by Stats.1947, Res. Chapter 90) State Song - "I Love You California" (Added by Stats.1951, Res. Chapter 87) State Animal - "California Grizzly" (Added by Stats.1953, c. 1140) State Motto - "Eureka" (Added by Stats.1963, c. 1237) State Rock - "Serpentine" (Added by Stats.1965, c. 89) AB 2364 (V. Manuel Perez) continued Page 2 State Mineral - "Native Gold" (Added by Stats.1965, c. 89) State Nickname - "Golden State" (Added by Stats.1968, c. 66) State Reptile - "Desert Tortoise" (Added by Stats.1972, c. 683) State Insect - "California Dogface Butterfly" (Added by Stats.1972, c. 521) State Fossil - "Sabre-Tooth Cat" (Added by Stats.1973, c. 792) State Historical Society - "California Historical Society" (Added by Stats.1979, c. 52) State Marine Mammal - "California Gray Whale" (Added by Stats.1975, c. 328) State Gemstone - "Benitoite" (Added by Stats.1985, c. 1365) State Folk Dance - "Square Dance" (Added by Stats.1988, c. 1645) State Dance - "West Coast Swing" (Added by Stats.1988, c. 1645) State Prehistoric Artifact - "Chipped Stone Bear" (Added by Stats.1991, c. 73) State Marine Fish - "Garibaldi" (Added by Stats.1995, c. 948) State Soil - "San Joaquin Soil" (Added by Stats.1997, c. 331) State Fife and Drum Band - "California Consolidated Drum Band" (Added by Stats.1997, c. 58) State Tartan - "Based on the family tartan of the revered John Muir" (blue and green with red, gold, and blue seams) - (Added by Stats.2001, c. 100) State Gold Rush Ghost Town - "Town of Bodie" (Added by Stats.2002, c. 365) State Tall Ship - "Californian" (Added by Stats.2003, c. 113) State Grass - "Nassella Pulchra" - commonly referred to as "purple needlegrass" (Added by Stats. 2004, c. 243) State Silver Rush Ghost Town - "Calico" (Added by Stats.2005, c. 90) Official Marine Reptile - "Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle" (Added by Stats.2012, c. 591) BACKGROUND Summary of Findings : The California red-legged frog is a rare species of frog found almost exclusively in the State AB 2364 (V. Manuel Perez) continued Page 3 of California and ranges in size from 2-5 inches long. It has a reddish coloring on the underside of the legs and belly - its back and head can range from red to brown and/or gray and the back and top of the legs are covered in small black spots and large dark blotches. California red-legged frog males communicate to females by a series of short, soft grunts - "unh-unh-uh-uh-grr." The California red-legged frog became famous for being the frog featured in Mark Twain's short story The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County. Its unique place in California history extends back to the 19th century gold rush. Californians consumed nearly 80,000 red-legged frogs per year, nearly eating the species to extinction. While the red-legged frog is no longer consumed by humans, the species continues to face myriad natural and man-made threats. These threats include the introduction of invasive species in the frog's habitat, as well as habitat loss. In May 1996, the species was listed as a federal threatened species with the State of California also classifying it as a species of special concern and subject to protection in June 1996. Purpose of AB 2364: The author's office points out existing law provides for several "official" state emblems that are well known - the Great Seal of the State of California, the Bear Flag and Golden Poppy. Additionally, the existing list of state insignia goes further and includes among other things, the state fish, the state insect, the state reptile and the state marine mammal. The author's office indicates that general research and other data on amphibians provided by the Prodigy Cats, an after school enrichment club at Sea View Elementary School on the west shore of the great Salton Sea, was the basis for introduction of AB 2364. This measure would declare the California red-legged frog the official state amphibian. The author's office believes that such a designation would highlight the species' important place in the ecology and history of California. PRIOR LEGISLATION AB 1776 (Fong), Chapter 591, Statutes of 2012. Designated the Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle as the official marine AB 2364 (V. Manuel Perez) continued Page 4 reptile of the State of California and established October 15 as Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle Conservation Day. SB 906 (Ashburn), Chapter 90, Statutes of 2005. Designated "Calico" in San Bernardino County as the official state Silver Rush Ghost Town. SB 1226 (Machado), Chapter 243, Statutes of 2004. Designated "purple needlegrass," or Nassella Pulchra, as the official State Grass. AB 965 (Kehoe), Chapter 113, Statutes of 2003. Established the "Californian" as the official state tall ship. AB 1757 (Leslie), Chapter 365, Statutes of 2002. Designated "Bodie" as the official state Gold Rush Ghost Town. SUPPORT: As of June 6, 2014: Action for Animals California Historical Society Center for Biological Diversity Humane Society of the United States Live Oak Associates, Inc. Prodigy Cats Club, Sea View Elementary School Save the Frogs Sierra Club Wild Equity Institute OPPOSE: None on file as of June 6, 2014. FISCAL COMMITTEE: No. ********** AB 2364 (V. Manuel Perez) continued Page 5