2006 Bills

Sacramento--The California Sportsman's Lobby

June 30, 2006 - Some bills being watched by CSL. Some of them have been set for hearings. Please note: hearing dates are subject to change depending upon the committee’s schedule.

FYI: June 2 was the last day for bills to be passed out of the house of origin. If a bill fails to get out of its house of origin, then in all probability it will not go any further. HOWEVER, nothing is sure until August 31, the last day for each house to pass bills. That is because bills that are still active may be amended to include elements of other bills.

On June 6, 2006, CSL wrote a letter to the Budget Conference Committee with copies of the letter to Governor Schwarzenegger and L. Ryan Broddrick (DFG Director) in support of retention of the $17.5 million in the budget funding for the Department of Fish and Game. This would bring compensation for Fish & Game Wardens up to par with their local and state counterparts and provide funding to help fill current vacancies. Our lobbyist, Kathryn Lynch has been active in the budget process.

Re: AB 352 (Koretz) Firearms, micro stamping
Location: Senate 3rd Reading
Position: OPPOSE

This would require that the firing pins of a semi-automatic weapon be set up so that it stamps each bullet that is fired with the make and model number of the gun being used. The technology was originally developed for use in laser printers and it is estimated that it would add 25 to 50 cents to the cost of manufacturing the firearm. However, it is possible that criminals would be able to easily file off the pins to remove the marker. The bill is on hold until a demonstration has been set up.

Re: SB 1032 (Hollingsworth) Antelope and Elk Tags
Location: Assembly 3rd Reading
Position: WATCH

Would set nonresident antelope tag at not less than $350 and nonresident elk tag at not less than $1050 with a limit of one antelope tag and one elk tag.

The reasoning behind this is for reciprocity with those states that allow nonresident antelope and elk tags.

Re: SB 1239 (Hollingsworth) Firearms: Transactions
Location: Signed by the Governor!
Position: SUPPORT

SB 1239 is supported by the California Sportsman’s Lobby because it would prevent the distribution of personal information about the seller of a firearm to the buyer in a private party sales transaction processed through a licensed firearms dealer. CSL believes that such information should not be distributed to the buyer, or to anyone else, except the dealer and the Department of Justice. SB 1239 would assure the confidentiality of the seller and it is therefore supported by CSL.

Re: SB 1578 (Lowenthal)Dogs:tethering prohibition
Location: Assembly Committee on Appropriations
Hearing: 8/09/2006
Position: WATCH

Passed the Senate on a vote of 21 Ayes to 14 Noes. Senate Floor Amendments of 5/26/06 clarify that the tethering prohibition does not apply to activities such as working or training hunting or guide dogs, or tethering dogs in order to draw blood, provided that it is a licensed activity which involves the use or presence of a dog.

Re: SB 1806 (Figueroa) Dogs
Location: Assembly - passed Assembly Committee on Appropriations on 6/29/2006
Position: WATCH

Amendments were asked for, and obtained by CSL lobbyist, Kathryn Lynch, that would delete provisions that could affect sportsmen while engaging in hunting or dog training, or while going to or from these activities.

Re: AB 1912 (Maze) Employment rights
Location: Assembly Labor & Employment Committee
Hearing: Cancelled at request of author
Position: SUPPORT

AB 1912 is supported by the CSL as it would resolve a growing problem of employers threatening their employees with termination if they participate in lawful hunting and other shooting activities before or after work. These employers are attempting to prohibit the lawful storage of firearms by their employees in their vehicles. Such storage is a necessity for employees in order to allow them the time required before or after work for recreation involving the lawful use of a firearm. Your bill would stop this deplorable practice by the offending employers.

Re: AB 2096 (Parra) Sales and use taxes: Exemptions: Firearm safety devices
Location: Assembly Appropriations held under submission
Position: WAS Oppose unless Amended - ammendments currently pending.

Was amended so the exemption from taxes shall be taken at the point of sale and no information shall be retained relative to the identity of the person receiving the exemption.

Re: AB 2110 (Hancock) Animal cruelty: dogs: Field coursing
Location: Assembly Appropriations held under submission
Position: OPPOSE

This is to notify you that the California Sportsman`s Lobby is in opposition to AB 2110. Though the genesis of this bill came from those who have expressed dismay over the field coursing of greyhound dogs that catch and kill jack rabbits, and AB 2110 as drafted does make an attempt to exempt sporting dogs used by licensed hunters, the bill is plagued by multiple deficiencies that make it unacceptable to legitimate sportsmen. It also would enact law in an area that is now regulated by the State Fish and Game Commission. The commission has not been shown to be incompetent to regulate field coursing. The subject of AB 2110 should be brought before the commission for action before the passage of legislation is considered. It is believed by CSL that the commission would take appropriate action and that legislation such as AB 2110 is not necessary.

Was amended to define “live field coursing” specifically as a competition in which dogs are, by the use of rabbits, hares, or foxes, assessed as to skill in hunting live rabbits, hares, or foxes.

Re: AB 2123 (Nava) Wildlife conservation: nonlead ammunition
Location: Assembly Water, Parks & Wildlife Committee
Position: OPPOSE

Failed passage in the Assembly Water Parks & Wildlife reconsideration granted.

This is to notify you of the opposition of the California Sportsman’s Lobby to AB 2123. Based upon the status of research conducted to date, not enough is yet known to ban ammunition that has lead as a component. Proceeding with a ban that is based on incomplete information is considered to be inadvisable. More research needs to be conducted first.

Re: AB 2146 (Canciamilla and Harman) Hunting or fishing: local regulation
Location: Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee
Hearing: Cancelled at the request of the author.

The bill would establish a process for commission review of, and recommendations regarding, a proposed action by a local agency that would significantly impede public access to navigable waters held in public trust by the state, and thereby impact public hunting or fishing rights.

Re: AB 2199 (Harman) Diversion: Firearm offenses
Location: Assembly Public Safety Committee
Hearing: Cancelled by author
Position: SUPPORT

The pre-trial diversion program that AB 2199 would authorize is supported by the California Sportsman’s Lobby. Many nonviolent offenses are committed unintentionally, and those that are intentional are often of such a nature that criminal prosecution is not appropriate. Yet, prosecutors have no choice but to prosecute or not. AB 2199 would give them an alternative to send nonviolent offenders to a pre-trial diversion program that would help them to correct their errant behavior in a way that would be more effective than a conviction in court.

Re: AB 2273 (Maze) Mountain Lions
Location: Assembly Banking and Finance Committee
Position: SUPPORT

Failed passage on 4/25, in the Assembly Business and Professions Committee. The bill has been given reconsideration and may be brought up once more in another hearing.

This bill would permit any person who has been injured by a mountain lion, or the spouse or dependent child of any person who has been killed by a mountain lion, as verified by a warden of the Department of Fish and Game, to apply to the Government Claims Program within the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board for all reasonable medical, physical, and psychological costs incurred by that injured person, to be paid out of the Wildlife Restoration Fund.

Re: AB 2714 (Torrico) Ammunition
Location: In Senate, amended on 6/21/2006, rereferred to the Senate Committee on Public Safety
Position: OPPOSE

6/21/06 ammendments:
AB 2714 SECTION 1. Section 12317 is added to the Penal Code, to read: 12317. (a) No ammunition or reloaded ammunition designed and intended to be used in a handgun may be delivered pursuant to a retail transaction unless the purchaser presents in person his or her bona fide evidence of majority and identity to the seller of the ammunition. A seller of ammunition may comply with this section by requiring a carrier to obtain the signature of the purchaser and view bona fide evidence of identity and that the purchaser is 21 years of age or older before delivering handgun ammunition shipped to an individual within this state. The container being delivered must have the following language, in at least 14 point type, conspicuously placed on it, stating: "SIGNATURE AND BONA FIDE EVIDENCE OF IDENTITY OF PERSON AGE 21 YEARS OR OLDER REQUIRED FOR DELIVERY."

(3) Ammunition or reloaded ammunition that is rimfire ammunition may be sold to a person who does not present in person bona fide evidence of majority and identity. is exempt from this section.

This is to inform you of the opposition of the California Sportsman’s Lobby to AB 2714. This bill would impose a requirement on ammunition retailers that, other than being a symbolic gesture of condemnation of those who lawfully enjoy the shooting sports, would serve no effective purpose. Nothing useful or appropriate could be gained by merely requiring a retailer to glance at an adult ammunition purchaser’s identification. Implementation of AB 2714 would amount to nothing more than an exercise of futility.

Re: AB 2728 (Klehs) Firearms
Location: In Senate, read the first time, sent to Committee on Rules for assignment
Position: WATCH

This bill is regarding inspections of firearms dealers.

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Legislative Calendar

July 07, 2006 - Summer Recess begins at the end of this day's session if Budget Bill has been enacted
August 07, 2006 - Legislature reconvenes
August 18, 2006 - Last day for Fiscal Committees to meet and report bills to the floor
August 25, 2006 - Last day to amend bills on the floor
August 31, 2006 - Last day to pass bills

Click here to locate your legislator.

To view the Tentative 2006 Legislative Calendar Click here.

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Send comments or submit articles to: California Sportsman's Lobby, Inc.
P.O. Box 1527Sacramento, CA 95812-1527
Phone: (916) 441-7563 Fax: (916) 441-6490
E-mail to: csl@calwildlife.org

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Copyright © 2006 California Sportsman's Lobby, Inc. All rights reserved.
Revised: June 7, 2006.