BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 711 Page 1 Date of Hearing: May 8, 2013 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Mike Gatto, Chair AB 711 (Rendon) - As Amended: April 17, 2013 Policy Committee: Water, Parks and Wildlife Vote: 9-5 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: Yes Reimbursable: No SUMMARY This bill requires nonlead ammunition for shooting wildlife in California. Specifically, this bill: 1)Requires nonlead ammunition for the taking of all wildlife in California, including game mammals, game birds, nongame birds, and nongame mammals, with any firearm. 2)Requires the Fish and Game Commission (FGC), by July 1, 2014, to certify, by regulation, nonlead ammunition for these purposes. This bill also expands the FGC's existing authority statewide to establish a process to provide hunters with nonlead ammunition at no or reduced charge. FISCAL EFFECT 1)Minor costs, probably less than $50,000 for DFW to develop regulations to certify ammunition as nonlead and distribute educational materials. 2)Extending current nonlead enforcement would result in minor, if any, additional costs for the law enforcement division of DFW. COMMENTS 1)Rationale. According to the author, 50 years of research concludes that lead in the environment poses an ongoing threat to public health and California's wildlife species. Lead is recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and the United States Environmental Protection Agency as toxic to both humans AB 711 Page 2 and animals. Lead is a known toxin that causes serious health and behavior problems for adults and children. Requiring hunters to use nonlead ammunition throughout the state will reduce the amount of lead released into the environment, while not affecting the quality of the hunting experience. 2)Background. In 2007, the Legislature enacted AB 821 (Nava) to require the use of nonlead ammunition in specific areas in and around the habitat of the California condor. Since then, the number of hunting licenses issued by DFW has slightly increased. University of California, Davis studies reveal a correlation between the condor lead ban and lower blood lead levels in turkey vultures and golden eagles. 3)Support. Numerous veterinarians and environmental organizations note over 500 scientific studies documenting that more than 130 wildlife species are negatively affected by lead ammunition. In addition to the negative impact of lead on bald eagles, golden eagles, and condors, humans are also negatively impacted through the consumption of meat contaminated by lead ammunition. 4)Opposition. Numerous firearm and hunting organizations contend there is a lack of affordable lead ammunition alternatives for hunting. Opponents also claim that some alternatives to lead-based ammunition, particularly for .22 long rifles, may be banned by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as armor piercing ammunition. If a significant number of hunters stop buying hunting licenses due to the ban or the unavailability of nonlead alternatives, restoration funds from license fees could decrease. Further, opponents assert the Fish and Game Commission, rather than the Legislature, is the proper forum for a discussion of a statewide ban. Analysis Prepared by : Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916) 319-2081 AB 711 Page 3