BILL ANALYSIS �
SB 132
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Date of Hearing: August 14, 2013
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
SB 132 (Hill) - As Amended: June 24, 2013
Policy Committee: Water, Parks and
Wildlife Vote: 15-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill requires the use of nonlethal procedures for removing
or taking mountain lions that are not an imminent threat to
public health and safety. This bill also allows the Department
of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) to rehabilitate mountain lions as
specified and authorize other qualified individuals and
organizations to implement nonlethal procedures.
Specifically, this bill:
1)Defines nonlethal procedures to include capturing, pursuing,
anesthetizing, temporarily possessing, temporarily injuring,
marking, attaching to or surgically implanting monitoring or
recognition devices, providing veterinary care, transporting,
hazing, rehabilitating, or taking no action.
2)Declares the provisions of the bill are consistent with, and
further the purposes of , the California Wildlife Protection
Act of 1990 (Proposition 117, 1990 Statewide Initiative).
3)Requires a 4/5 vote of the Legislature for passage.
FISCAL EFFECT
Ongoing GF costs of approximately $110,000 to DFW for training,
staffing, and entering into agreements with qualified
individuals and organizations.
DFW issued bulletin 2013-02 on March 1, 2013 updating the
policies and procedures for the mountain lion program. This
bill is consistent with that policy. DFW currently has the
SB 132
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authority to implement all provisions of the bill except the
authorization to rehabilitate mountain lions and enter into
agreements with specified others. .
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . This bill provides DFW the ability to use nonlethal
means to deal with mountain lions that do not propose an
immediate threat to humans. This bill expands DFW's authority
to partner with individuals and entities with wildlife
expertise to provide response assistance in situations that do
not pose a public safety threat.
2)Background . The California Wildlife Protection Act
(Proposition 117) was enacted by the voters in 1990. This Act
prohibits the hunting or killing of mountain lions except in
situations that pose immediate threats to health and safety or
for mountain lions that are found injuring crops or livestock.
The Act requires a 4/5 vote of the Legislature and a finding
that any modifications further the purposed of the Act in
order to be amended.
In November 2012, two mountain lion cubs found hiding under a
porch in Half Moon Bay were killed by DFW. It was later
determined that the cubs posed no public safety or property
threat. In response, DFW issued bulletin 2013-02 on March 1,
2013 updating the policies and procedures for the mountain
lion program. This bill is consistent with that policy. DFW
currently has the authority to implement all provisions of the
bill except the authorization to rehabilitate mountain lions
and enter into agreements with specified others.
According to DFW, as California's population continues to grow
and expand into wildlife habitat, human-wildlife interactions
will continue to increase over time.
Analysis Prepared by : Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)
319-2081