Proposition 117, an initiative measure approved by the voters at the June 5, 1990, statewide primary election, enacted the California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990. The act establishes that the mountain lion is a specially protected mammal under the laws of this state, and makes it unlawful to take, injure, possess, transport, import, or sell any mountain lion or any part or product thereof. The act authorizes the Department of Fish and Wildlife, or a specified appropriate local agency authorized by the department, to remove or take any mountain lion that is perceived to be an imminent threat to public health or safety or that is perceived by the department to be an imminent threat to the survival of certain sheep species.
This bill would require the department to, by January 1, 2027, establish a pilot program known as "Tree and Free" in the County of El Dorado in order to collect data on the efficacy of authorizing permitted private houndspersons to proactively haze mountain lions deemed to be a potential threat to public safety, livestock, or other domestic animal by the department, animal damage control officer, or local enforcement agency. The bill would require the program to be operative for 5 years from the date of commencement and, once concluded, would require the department to, no later than January 1, 2033, provide a report to the Legislature and the Fish and Game Commission on the efficacy the program and feasibility on expanding the program to other areas, as specified.
The bill would require the department to collaborate with federal, state, and county trapping experts and interested nonprofit organizations in developing the criteria and procedure for registering authorized or permitted houndspersons. The bill would require houndspersons permitted and registered with the department to purchase an annual hazing permit for participation in the program, the cost of which shall be determined by the department, not to exceed the cost of implementing the pilot program.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for County of El Dorado.
The California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990 prohibits the Legislature from changing the act, with specified exceptions, except by a 45 vote of the membership of both houses of the Legislature and then only if consistent with, and in furtherance of, the purposes of the act.
This bill would declare that it is consistent with, and furthers the purposes of, that act.

Statutes affected:
SB 818: 4808 FGC
02/21/25 - Introduced: 4808 FGC