Amended in Assembly April 17, 2013

Amended in Assembly March 19, 2013

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 711

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Introduced by Assembly Member Rendon

(Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Pan)

(Coauthors: Assembly Membersbegin insert Ammiano,end insert Blumenfield, Fong, Stone, and Williams)

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(Coauthor: Senator Steinberg)

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February 21, 2013

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An act to amend Section 3004.5 of the Fish and Game Code, relating to hunting.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 711, as amended, Rendon. Hunting: nonlead ammunition.

Existing law requires the Fish and Game Commission, by July 1, 2008, to establish by regulation a public process to certify centerfire rifle and pistol ammunition as nonlead ammunition, and to define by regulation nonlead ammunition as including only centerfire rifle and pistol ammunition in which there is no lead content. Existing law requires the commission to establish and annually update a list of certified centerfire rifle and pistol ammunition.

Existing law requires that nonlead ammunition, as determined by the commission, be used when taking big game with a rifle or pistol, as defined by the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s hunting regulations, and when taking coyote, within specified deer hunting zones, but excluding specific counties and areas. begin insertA violation of these provisions is a crime. end insertExisting law requires the commission to establish a process, to the extent that funding is available, that will provide hunters in these specified deer hunting zones with nonlead ammunition at no or reduced charge.begin delete A violation of these provisions is a crime.end delete

This bill would revise and recast these provisions to require the use of nonlead ammunition for the taking of all wildlife, including game mammals, game birds, nongame birds, and nongame mammals, with any firearm. The bill would require the commission, by July 1, 2014, to certify, by regulation, nonlead ammunition for these purposes. The bill would make conforming changes. The bill would provide that these provisions do not apply to government officials or their agents when carrying out a mandatory statutory duty required by law.

The bill would require the commission to promulgate regulations by July 1, 2014, that phase in the requirements of these provisions. The bill would require that these requirements be fully implemented statewide by no later than July 1, 2016. The bill would also require that the commission not reduce or eliminate any existing regulatory restrictions on the use of lead ammunition in California condor habitat unless or until the additional requirements for use of nonlead ammunition as required by these provisions are implemented.

By expanding and changing the definition of a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

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