Under existing law, the Department of Parks and Recreation administers and manages the state park system. Existing law permits visitors to bring animals into units of the state park system when the Director of Parks and Recreation determines that it is in the public interest. Existing law prohibits an animal brought into a state park system unit from being allowed to pose a threat to public safety and welfare, create a public nuisance, or pose a threat to the natural or cultural resources of the unit or to the improvements at the unit.

This bill would permit visitors to bring animals into units of the state park system or recreational areas of those units, including hiking trails, unless limiting access to a unit or recreational area is the only means of preventing those animals from engaging in behavior that is likely to pose a substantial threat to public safety and welfare, create a substantial public nuisance, or pose a substantial threat to the natural or cultural resources of the unit or to the improvements at the unit. The bill would require the department to rely on fines, fee authority, rules, and regulations, whenever available, to prevent these harms in lieu of limiting access pursuant to these provisions.