BILL ANALYSIS �
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair
AB 1162 (Chesbro)
Hearing Date: 07/11/2011 Amended: 06/20/2011
Consultant: Brendan McCarthy Policy Vote: NR&W 9-0
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BILL SUMMARY: AB 1162 provides that the illegal take of trophy
deer, elk, antelope, or bighorn sheep shall be subject to a fine
from $5,000 to $40,000 and/or imprisonment for up to one year.
The bill provides that the illegal take of trophy wild turkey
shall be subject to a fine from $2,000 to $5,000 and/or
imprisonment for up to one year. The bill provides that any
person who uses a signaling device to take a bear with the
intent to sell bear parts is subject to a fine of $10,000 per
bear part in possession.
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Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 Fund
Development of regulations Up to $150 Special
*
Fine revenues Unknown, likely minor revenue
increasesVarious **
Enforcement costs Absorbable within existing
resourcesSpecial *
* Fish and Game Preservation Fund.
** Fish and Game Preservation Fund and local funds.
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STAFF COMMENTS: This bill meets the criteria for referral to the
Suspense File.
Under current law, the illegal taking of fish or wildlife is
subject to civil fines up to $10,000. In addition, the illegal
take or possession of wildlife for profit is punishable by a
fine from $5,000 to $40,000 and/or imprisonment for one year.
Subsequent violations are subject to increasing penalties.
AB 1162 (Chesbro)
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Existing law also authorizes the suspension or revocation of a
hunting license for the illegal take of wildlife for personal
gain and the forfeiture of any equipment used during the
violation.
AB 1162 imposes criminal fines and/or imprisonment for the
illegal taking of "trophy" individuals of certain species.
Specifically, the bill provides that anyone who knowingly and
illegally takes a trophy deer, elk, antelope, or bighorn sheep
shall be subject to a fine from $5,000 to $40,000 and/or
imprisonment up to one year. The bill provides that anyone who
knowingly and illegally takes a trophy wild turkey shall be
subject to a fine from $2,000 to $5,000 and/or imprisonment up
to one year.
The bill requires the Fish and Game Commission to adopt
regulations to implement the provisions of the bill.
The bill provides that any person who uses a signal emitting
device in conjunction with the take of bear with the intention
of selling bear parts shall be subject to a fine of $10,000 per
bear part. (For example, using a GPS device on a dog's collar to
help pursue a bear.)
The bill specifies that fine revenues be deposited in either the
Big Game Management Account or the Upland Game Bird Account
(both within the Fish and Game Preservation Fund) and provides
that 50 percent of any fine revenues shall be provided to the
county in which the violation occurred, to be used to reimburse
costs associated with the violation.
Staff estimates that the costs to adopt the regulations required
under the bill will be up to $150,000. The bill will likely
result in increased fine revenues. The amount of that revenue is
unknown, but is not likely to be significant.