BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 606
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Date of Hearing: March 22, 2011
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
AB 606 (Gatto) - As Amended: March 25, 2011
Policy Committee: Water, Parks and
Wildlife Vote: 11-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill directs the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) to
permit wildlife-dependent recreational activities, including
hunting and fishing, on lands prospectively subject to either a
wildlife easement or a contract for fish and wildlife habitat
preservation, restoration and enhancement. The bill makes an
exception for lands for which the easement, contact or
memorandum of understanding specifically prohibits certain
wildlife-dependent activities.
FISCAL EFFECT
Negligible costs to DFG.
COMMENTS
1)Rationale . The author contends this bill is needed to assure
property owners who are considering placing their land under
some type of protection for wildlife conservation that
wildlife-dependent activity, including hunting and fishing,
will continue to be practiced upon that land.
2)Background. Under existing law, DFG generally permits
wildlife-dependent activities, including hunting and fishing,
to occur on lands subject to wildlife conservation easements
and contracts. However, the law does not require that DFG
permit such activities on these lands.
3)Wildlife Dependent Activities-Some More Equal Than Others.
The author contends this bill is intended to assure landowners
considering placing their land under contract to preserve
AB 606
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wildlife that the land owners, and possibly others, will be
able to continue to use the land for wildlife-dependent
practices. In public hearings and in private meetings, the
author and his staff have provided examples of
wildlife-dependent activities, including bird watching,
hiking, camping, hunting and fishing. While the bill directs
DFG to permit all wildlife-dependent activities on lands
subject to contract or easement, the text of the bill
specifically cites only two types of wildlife-dependent
activities-hunting and fishing.
The author and supporters contend it is appropriate the bill
specifically mention hunting and fishing. This is because
(a) land owners who consider placing land under contract or
easement often doubt that hunting and fishing will continue on
the land once it is subject to contract or easement, despite
landowners' wishes, and (b) fees paid by hunters and anglers
fund much of DFG's conservation activities, such as creation
of conservation easements and contracts.
4)Support . This bill is supported by several groups that
advocate for the interests of hunters and anglers and the
wildlife and habitat upon which they depend.
5)Opposition . The bill is opposed by PAW PAC-California's
Political Action Committee for Animals, which describes itself
as dedicated to the passage of humane laws and election of
humane legislators.
Analysis Prepared by : Jay Dickenson / APPR. / (916) 319-2081