California Assembly Bill AB1773 Latest Draft

 BILL NUMBER: AB 1773AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 29, 2012 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Yamada FEBRUARY 17, 2012 An act to add  Section   Sections  3706  and 3707  to the Fish and Game Code, relating to migratory birds. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1773, as amended, Yamada. Migratory birds:  the  Pacific  Flyway.   Flyway: report.  Existing law authorizes the Fish and Game Commission to adopt regulations pertaining to migratory birds, as specified. Existing law requires a person to procure a hunting license and a duck stamp or a state duck hunting validation to take migratory birds, as specified. This bill would  require the Department of Fish and Game, in coordination with others, as specified, to develop a report, as prescribed, to inform and coordinate management decisions within the department regarding the Pacific Flyway and would require the report to be submitted to the Legislature by an unspecified date. This bill would also  make legislative findings and declarations pertaining to migratory birds and the Pacific Flyway. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no   yes  . State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 3706 is added to the Fish and Game Code, to read: 3706. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) The Pacific Flyway is an essential wildlife corridor of state, federal, and international significance. (b) California's inland and coastal areas, including lands in the central valley  ,  are important habitat components of the Pacific Flyway. (c) In California, the Pacific Flyway is supported by a diverse assortment of public and private lands, including national wildlife refuges, state wildlife areas, ricelands and other agricultural lands, and managed wetlands. (d) Lands along the Pacific Flyway serve as habitat for wintering waterfowl, breeding waterfowl, nonbreeding shorebirds, breeding shorebirds, waterbirds, breeding riparian songbirds, and additional terrestrial and aquatic species, including  listed   protected  species such as the giant garter snake. (e) The Central Valley Joint Venture 2006 Implementation Plan establishes conservation objectives, including reliable water supplies, for different land uses that provide habitat values to the various bird groups utilizing the Pacific Flyway and serves as a helpful guide for habitat needs in the central valley. (f) The migratory nature of the birds utilizing the Pacific Flyway dictates that adequate habitat be provided throughout the Pacific Flyway to enhance survivability of  the   these  species.  SEC. 2.   Section 3707 is added to the   Fish and Game Code   , to read:   3707. (a) The department, in coordination with other state agencies, local governments, federal agencies, nongovernmental conservation organizations, landowners, agriculture, recreation, scientific entities, and industry, including the Central Valley Joint Venture, the Intermountain West Joint Venture, the Pacific Coast Joint Venture, the San Francisco Bay Joint Venture, and the Sonoran Joint Venture, shall develop a report to inform and coordinate management decisions within the department regarding the Pacific Flyway. This report shall be submitted to the Legislature by ________, and shall include all of the following: (1) A description of the areas in the state and different land uses that make up the Pacific Flyway. (2) A description of the terrestrial and aquatic species reliant upon Pacific Flyway lands in California and the habitat values provided by those lands. (3) Identification of potential threats to Pacific Flyway habitat, including urban encroachment and reallocation of water resources from Pacific Flyway lands to other purposes. (b) (1) The requirement for submitting a report imposed under subdivision (a) is inoperative on ______, pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code. (2) A report to be submitted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.