BILL ANALYSIS Ó
Bill No: AB
2364
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Senator Lou Correa, Chair
2013-2014 Regular Session
Staff Analysis
AB 2364 Author: V. Manuel Perez
As Amended: March 26, 2014
Hearing Date: June 10, 2014
Consultant: Art Terzakis
SUBJECT
State Amphibian: California red-legged frog
DESCRIPTION
AB 2364 designates the California red-legged frog (a.k.a.,
Rana draytonii) as the official state amphibian.
EXISTING LAW
Existing law designates the following as official state
insignia:
State Flower - "Golden Poppy" (Added by Stats.1903, c.
69)
State Bird - "California Valley Quail" (Added by
Stats.1931, c. 777)
State Tree - "California Redwood" includes both the
coast redwood (Sequoia empervirens) and the Sierra big
tree (Sequoia gigantea) - (Added by Stats.1943, c. 134;
Amended by Stats.1953, c. 1140)
State Theatre - "Pasadena Playhouse" (Added by
Stats.1937, Res. Chapter 45)
State Fish - "California Golden Trout" (Added by
Stats.1947, Res. Chapter 90)
State Song - "I Love You California" (Added by
Stats.1951, Res. Chapter 87)
State Animal - "California Grizzly" (Added by
Stats.1953, c. 1140)
State Motto - "Eureka" (Added by Stats.1963, c. 1237)
State Rock - "Serpentine" (Added by Stats.1965, c. 89)
AB 2364 (V. Manuel Perez) continued
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State Mineral - "Native Gold" (Added by Stats.1965, c.
89)
State Nickname - "Golden State" (Added by Stats.1968,
c. 66)
State Reptile - "Desert Tortoise" (Added by Stats.1972,
c. 683)
State Insect - "California Dogface Butterfly" (Added by
Stats.1972, c. 521)
State Fossil - "Sabre-Tooth Cat" (Added by Stats.1973,
c. 792)
State Historical Society - "California Historical
Society" (Added by Stats.1979, c. 52)
State Marine Mammal - "California Gray Whale" (Added by
Stats.1975, c. 328)
State Gemstone - "Benitoite" (Added by Stats.1985, c.
1365)
State Folk Dance - "Square Dance" (Added by Stats.1988,
c. 1645)
State Dance - "West Coast Swing" (Added by Stats.1988,
c. 1645)
State Prehistoric Artifact - "Chipped Stone Bear"
(Added by Stats.1991, c. 73)
State Marine Fish - "Garibaldi" (Added by Stats.1995,
c. 948)
State Soil - "San Joaquin Soil" (Added by Stats.1997,
c. 331)
State Fife and Drum Band - "California Consolidated
Drum Band" (Added by Stats.1997, c. 58)
State Tartan - "Based on the family tartan of the
revered John Muir" (blue and green with red, gold, and
blue seams) - (Added by Stats.2001, c. 100)
State Gold Rush Ghost Town - "Town of Bodie" (Added by
Stats.2002, c. 365)
State Tall Ship - "Californian" (Added by Stats.2003,
c. 113)
State Grass - "Nassella Pulchra" - commonly referred to
as "purple needlegrass" (Added by Stats. 2004, c. 243)
State Silver Rush Ghost Town - "Calico" (Added by
Stats.2005, c. 90)
Official Marine Reptile - "Pacific Leatherback Sea
Turtle" (Added by Stats.2012, c. 591)
BACKGROUND
Summary of Findings : The California red-legged frog is a
rare species of frog found almost exclusively in the State
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of California and ranges in size from 2-5 inches long. It
has a reddish coloring on the underside of the legs and
belly - its back and head can range from red to brown
and/or gray and the back and top of the legs are covered in
small black spots and large dark blotches. California
red-legged frog males communicate to females by a series of
short, soft grunts - "unh-unh-uh-uh-grr."
The California red-legged frog became famous for being the
frog featured in Mark Twain's short story The Celebrated
Jumping Frog of Calaveras County. Its unique place in
California history extends back to the 19th century gold
rush. Californians consumed nearly 80,000 red-legged frogs
per year, nearly eating the species to extinction. While
the red-legged frog is no longer consumed by humans, the
species continues to face myriad natural and man-made
threats. These threats include the introduction of
invasive species in the frog's habitat, as well as habitat
loss. In May 1996, the species was listed as a federal
threatened species with the State of California also
classifying it as a species of special concern and subject
to protection in June 1996.
Purpose of AB 2364: The author's office points out
existing law provides for several "official" state emblems
that are well known - the Great Seal of the State of
California, the Bear Flag and Golden Poppy. Additionally,
the existing list of state insignia goes further and
includes among other things, the state fish, the state
insect, the state reptile and the state marine mammal.
The author's office indicates that general research and
other data on amphibians provided by the Prodigy Cats, an
after school enrichment club at Sea View Elementary School
on the west shore of the great Salton Sea, was the basis
for introduction of AB 2364. This measure would declare
the California red-legged frog the official state
amphibian. The author's office believes that such a
designation would highlight the species' important place in
the ecology and history of California.
PRIOR LEGISLATION
AB 1776 (Fong), Chapter 591, Statutes of 2012. Designated
the Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle as the official marine
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reptile of the State of California and established October
15 as Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle Conservation Day.
SB 906 (Ashburn), Chapter 90, Statutes of 2005. Designated
"Calico" in San Bernardino County as the official state
Silver Rush Ghost Town.
SB 1226 (Machado), Chapter 243, Statutes of 2004.
Designated "purple needlegrass," or Nassella Pulchra, as
the official State Grass.
AB 965 (Kehoe), Chapter 113, Statutes of 2003. Established
the "Californian" as the official state tall ship.
AB 1757 (Leslie), Chapter 365, Statutes of 2002.
Designated "Bodie" as the official state Gold Rush Ghost
Town.
SUPPORT: As of June 6, 2014:
Action for Animals
California Historical Society
Center for Biological Diversity
Humane Society of the United States
Live Oak Associates, Inc.
Prodigy Cats Club, Sea View Elementary School
Save the Frogs
Sierra Club
Wild Equity Institute
OPPOSE: None on file as of June 6, 2014.
FISCAL COMMITTEE: No.
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