BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2075
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CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 2075 (Alejo)
As Amended July 3, 2014
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: | |(April 21, |SENATE: |22-9 |(August 7, |
| |65-3 |2014) | | |2014) |
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Original Committee Reference: W., P. & W.
SUMMARY : Extends the sunset on provisions of existing law
allowing the importation, possession, and sale of alligator and
crocodile products in California for five years until 2020.
The Senate amendments :
1)Shorten the sunset date from 10 years to five years allowing
importation, possession, and sale of alligator and crocodile
products in California to 2020.
2)Make technical corrections to dual statutory sections to
reflect intent to allow importation and commercial trade in
crocodile or alligator parts for five years from January 1,
2015, to January 1, 2020.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Makes it unlawful to import into the state for commercial
purposes, to possess with intent to sell, or to sell within
the state, the dead body, or any part or product thereof, of
specified wild animal species that are not native to
California. Violation of this prohibition is punishable as a
misdemeanor subject to a fine of not less than $1,000 and not
more than $5,000, or six months imprisonment, or both the fine
and imprisonment.
2)Makes it unlawful, commencing January 1, 2015, to import into
this state for commercial purposes, to possess with intent to
sell, or to sell within the state, the dead body, or part or
product thereof, of a crocodile or alligator. Importation,
possession, and sale of such products are currently allowed in
California until that date, except that the law does not
authorize importation or sale of any alligator or crocodilian
AB 2075
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species, or any products thereof, that are listed as
endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act, or where
such action would be in violation of any federal law or
international treaty to which the United States is a party.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill extended the sunset date on
the existing law allowing importation, possession and sale of
alligator and crocodile products in California for 10 years to
2025.
FISCAL EFFECT : None. This bill is keyed non-fiscal by the
Legislative Counsel.
COMMENTS : Prior to 2006, California law prohibited the
importation of products made from alligators or crocodiles. The
Legislature agreed to lift the ban in 2006 but added a sunset
clause of 2010 in response to concerns that allowing importation
could encourage increased production, putting increased pressure
on wild stocks, or lead to more harvesting of endangered or
threatened species that resemble species taken legally. In
2009, the law was extended for another five years to 2015. As
passed by the Assembly, this bill would have extended the law
for 10 years to 2025. The Senate amendments shortened the
sunset by five years to 2020. The Senate Natural Resources and
Water Committee noted that extending the sunset for five years,
instead of 10 years, could help ensure that efforts to improve
harvesting and compliance continue and that populations continue
to thrive.
This bill was passed on concurrence earlier in June 2014, but
that action was subsequently rescinded so that this bill could
be returned to the Senate to make a technical correction. There
are two different Penal Code Sections that will be in effect
during the five year period of the extension, one in effect
prior to January 1, 2016, and one thereafter. The latest
amendments make consistent and conforming changes to the second
section.
Analysis Prepared by : Diane Colborn / W., P. & W. / (916)
319-2096
FN: 0004268
AB 2075
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