BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 2268
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 14, 2014

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                   AB 2268 (Bigelow) - As Amended:  April 7, 2014 

          Policy Committee:                              Water, Parks and  
          Wildlife     Vote:                            14-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:              

           SUMMARY  

          This bill requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) to  
          conduct a study on the wild pig population in California  
          including recommendations to mitigate the wild pig population.
           
          FISCAL EFFECT  

          Increased costs to DFW in the $50,000 to $400,000 range.

          This bill does not outline the requirements of the study.  The  
          cost will depend on the level of detail required.  


           COMMENTS  

           1)Rationale.   According to the author, wild pigs are the most  
            destructive invasive species in the state, causing hundreds of  
            millions of dollars of damage each year to natural ecosystems  
            on public and private lands.  Further, the current process for  
            landowners to obtain the applicable permits need to kill wild  
            pigs is cumbersome and difficult.

           2)Background.  Wild pigs are classified as game mammals.  A  
            hunting license and wild pig tags, or a depredation permit are  
            required to kill wild pigs.  However, under existing law, land  
            owners whose property is damaged or destroyed by wild pigs may  
            apply to DFW for a permit to kill the animals.  Any pig that  
            is encountered while in the act of inflicting injury to humans  
            or livestock or damaging property may be killed immediately by  
            the land owner or government officials.  
                 








                                                                 AB 2268
                                                                  Page  2

             Landowners may also allow hunters or DFW officials on their  
            property to hunt wild pigs.

           3)Wild Pig Management.   DFW is currently required to prepare a  
            plan for the management of wild pigs, including determining  
            the status and trend of wild pig populations.  It is unclear  
            if this bill expands this existing requirement.


           Analysis Prepared by  :    Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081