BILL NUMBER: AB 1561	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 26, 2001
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 29, 2001

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Kelley

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2001

    An act to add Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 2960)
to Division 3 of the Fish and Game Code, relating to the Colorado
River, and making an appropriation therefor.    An act
relating to water. 



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1561, as amended, Kelley.  Colorado River.
   Under existing law, the state undertakes environmental and water
supply planning with regard to the Colorado River.
   Existing law authorizes the taking of endangered, threatened, and
candidate species under certain circumstances.
   This bill would  authorize the Department of Fish and Game
and the Fish and Game Commission to authorize   declare
the intent of the Legislature to address the issues of authorizing
 the taking of certain birds and fully protected species caused
by the implementation of any component of the Lower Colorado River
Multi-Species Conservation Program established by the States of
California, Arizona, and Nevada and approved by the 
department   Department of Fish and Game  , or by
the implementation of any component of the May 11, 2000, working
draft of California's Colorado River Water Use Plan.  
   Existing law continuously appropriates money in the Fish and Game
Preservation Fund to the department to pay all necessary expenses
incurred in carrying out the Fish and Game Code and any other law for
the protection and preservation of birds, mammals, reptiles, and
fish.
   This bill would make an appropriation by providing new statutory
authority for the department. 
   Vote:  majority.  Appropriation:   yes   no
 .  Fiscal committee:   yes   no  .
State-mandated local program:  no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  
  SECTION 1.  Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 2960) is 

  SECTION 1.  It is the intent of the Legislature to address the
issues of authorizing the taking of certain birds and fully protected
species caused by the implementation of any component of the Lower
Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program established by the
States of California, Arizona, and Nevada and approved by the
Department of Fish and Game, or by the implementation of any
component of the May 11, 2000, working draft of California's Colorado
River Water Use Plan, as that plan may be amended by the Colorado
River Board of California.   added to Division 3 of the
Fish and Game Code, to read:

      CHAPTER 13.  COLORADO RIVER

   2960.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the commission
or the department may authorize the taking of any species which is
identified in Section 3503.5, 3505, 3511, 4700, 5050, or 5515, and
which taking is caused by the implementation of any component of the
Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program, established
by the States of California, Arizona, and Nevada and approved by the
department, or by the implementation of any component of the May 11,
2000, working draft of the California's Colorado River Water Use Plan
prepared by the Colorado River Board of California and necessary for
California to transition to its normal annual Colorado River water
apportionment of 4.4 million acre feet, and as that plan may be
amended by that board.  The taking of any such species shall be
authorized under the same conditions as the commission or the
department may authorize the taking of an endangered, threatened, or
candidate species pursuant to Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section
2050) of, or Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 2800) of, Division
3.