AB 573

Bill Subjects

Abstract

(1) Existing law defines the term "wild pig" for purposes of managing, taking, or hunting that species and classifies the wild pig as a game mammal. Under existing law, a mammal occurring naturally in California that is not a game mammal, fully protected mammal, or fur-bearing mammal is a nongame mammal. Existing law requires a person to procure, as specified, either a hunting license and a wild pig tag or a depredation permit in order to take a wild pig. However, existing law provides that any wild pig that is encountered while in the act of inflicting injury to, or damaging or destroying, or threatening to immediately damage or destroy, land or other property may be taken immediately by the owner or the owner's employee or agent, as specified. Under existing law, a violation of the Fish and Game Code is a crime. This bill would revise and recast the provisions applicable to wild pigs by, among other things, specifying that the wild pig is not a game mammal or nongame mammal. The bill would expand the definition of "wild pig" to include feral pigs, European wild boars. and any pig that has 2 or more specified phenotypical characteristics and that does not have a permanent mark or visible tag described below. The bill would make this definition applicable to the entire Fish and Game Code. This bill would replace the wild pig tag requirement with a wild pig validation that would authorize a person who procures the validation to take any number of wild pigs specified by the Fish and Game Commission during the license year of the validation. The bill would set the price of a wild pig validation at $15 for residents and $50 for nonresidents for the 2018 license year, and would provide for increases pursuant to a specified inflation index. However, the bill would authorize the commission to require the procurement of wild pig tags in lieu of wild pig validations, to set a fee for the procurement of a wild pig tag, and to adopt other requirements for a wild pig tag. This bill would eliminate the requirement to obtain a depredation permit and also eliminate the authority to immediately take a wild pig under the above-described circumstances. The bill would instead provide that any wild pig found to be injuring, molesting, pursuing, worrying, or killing livestock or damaging or destroying, or threatening to damage or destroy, land or other property, may be taken at any time or in any manner by the owner or tenant of the premises or employees and agents in immediate possession of written permission from the owner or tenant of the premises, as specified. This bill would make other technical and conforming changes to these provisions. These provisions would become operative on July 1, 2019. Because a violation of these new provisions would be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) Existing law makes it unlawful for any person to import any swine into this state except for immediate slaughter unless the person procures a health certificate and an import permit from the Department of Food and Agriculture prior to the shipment or movement of the swine. Under existing law, a violation of the Food and Agricultural Code is a crime. This bill, beginning July 1, 2019, would require the Department of Food and Agriculture to adopt regulations to require a person who possesses a domestic swine that has two or more of the above-described phenotypical characteristics of a wild pig to identify the swine with a brand, tattoo, or other permanent mark or visible tag approved by the department. Because a violation of this provision would be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (3) 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.