Amended  IN  Assembly  March 15, 2018

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill No. 2670

Introduced by Assembly Member Kiley

February 15, 2018

An act relating to fish and wildlife. to amend Section 3040 of the Fish and Game Code, relating to hunting.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 2670, as amended, Kiley. Fish and wildlife: Natural Community Conservation Planning Act. Free hunting days.
Existing law authorizes the Director of Fish and Wildlife to establish 2 free hunting days per year: one in the fall, and one in the winter. Existing law authorizes a California unlicensed resident to hunt during a free hunting day if accompanied by a licensed hunter, subject to certain conditions. Existing law prohibits these provisions from being implemented until the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Automated License Data System is fully operational for at least one year.
This bill would require, rather than authorize, the director to establish 2 free hunting days per year one in the fall and one in the spring, no later than July 1, 2019. The bill would delete the prohibition requiring a delay in implementation of the above-described provisions.

The Natural Community Conservation Planning Act authorizes the Department of Fish and Wildlife to enter into a specified agreement with any person or public entity for the purpose of preparing a natural community conservation plan, in cooperation with a local agency that has land use permit authority over the activities proposed to be addressed in the plan, in order to provide comprehensive management and conservation of multiple wildlife species, including, but not limited to, those species listed as endangered or threatened.

This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would amend the Fish and Game Code relating to natural community conservation planning.

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NOYES   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 Section 3040 of the Fish and Game Code is amended to read:

3040.
 (a) Notwithstanding Section 3031, the director may shall, no later than July 1, 2019, designate two days per year as “Free Hunting Days.” One free hunting day may shall be established during the fall hunting season, and the other free hunting day may shall be established during the winter spring hunting season. The department shall publish the exact dates of the free hunting days in annual publications of the department regarding current hunting regulations.
(b) During a free hunting day, a California resident may hunt if accompanied by a hunter who holds a valid hunting license issued by the State of California, has held a valid hunting license for at least the last three consecutive years, is at least 21 years of age, and accompanies only one unlicensed hunter in the field at a time. An unlicensed hunter shall participate in the free hunting days for only one license year and shall complete a hunter education course approved by the department and register with the department, or an agent of the department, prior to before participating in a free hunting day. While engaged in hunting activities, the an unlicensed hunter shall remain in close visual and verbal contact with the licensed hunter at all times so that the licensed hunter is able to provide adequate direction and immediately assume control of a firearm from the unlicensed hunter at any time.
(c) An unlicensed hunter who participates in a free hunting day shall have in his or her possession all of the following:
(1) A certificate of completion of a course in hunter education as required in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 3050.
(2) Any required tags or report cards.
(3) Any required federal entitlements.
(4) Any required entry permits.
(d) Unlicensed hunters participating in free hunting days shall not take any species that requires a draw or lottery to obtain a tag.
(e) An unlicensed hunter hunting pursuant to this section is subject to all of the limitations, restrictions, conditions, statutes, rules, and regulations applicable to the holder of a valid hunting license, except the requirement to possess a valid hunting license.
(f) The department may adopt additional minimum requirements and restrictions for a licensed hunter or unlicensed hunter participating in a free hunting day pursuant to this section.

(g)This section shall not be implemented until the department’s Automated License Data System is fully operational for at least one year.

SECTION 1.

It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would amend the Fish and Game Code relating to natural community conservation planning.