Bill Text: CA AB1762 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: State parks: visitors: animals: dogs.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 8-0)

Status: (Passed) 2018-09-29 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 908, Statutes of 2018. [AB1762 Detail]

Download: California-2017-AB1762-Amended.html

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Amended  IN  Assembly  April 02, 2018

Amended  IN  Assembly  February 28, 2018

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 1762

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Introduced by Assembly Member Steinorth
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Acosta, Chen, Flora, Harper, Lackey, and Mathis)
(Coauthor: Senator Nguyen)

January 04, 2018

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An act to amend Section 5008.1 of the Public Resources Code, relating to state parks.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 1762, as amended, Steinorth. State parks: visitors: animals. animals: dogs.

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 dogs into units of the state park system or recreational areas of those units. The bill would require the director to develop fines, rules, and regulations to mitigate or prevent any behavior by those animals dogs that may 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. The bill would require the department to establish and maintain on its Internet Web site a comprehensive, up-to-date list of each unit with information on whether the unit or a portion of the unit allows dogs and additonal specified information. The bill would provide that these changes to this provision shall not be construed to limit access for persons with guide dogs, signal dogs, service dogs, or other service animals, or for riding animals, pack animals, or livestock, that was permitted before these changes or is permitted by any other law.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Section 5008.1 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:

5008.1.

 (a) Visitors to units of the state park system may bring animals dogs into those units and into recreational areas of those units.

(b) Any animal dog brought into a state park system unit pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be under the immediate control of the visitor or shall be confined.

(c) The director shall develop fines, rules, and regulations to mitigate or prevent any behavior by an animal a dog brought into a state park system unit pursuant to subdivision (a) that may do any of the following:

(1) Pose a threat to public safety and welfare.

(2) Create a public nuisance.

(3) Pose a threat to the natural or cultural resources of the unit or to the improvements at the unit.

(d) The department may require a person bringing an animal a dog into a state park system unit pursuant to subdivision (a) to provide proof of appropriate immunizations and valid licenses.

(e) (1) This section does not apply to dogs used to lawfully pursue game in season at units of the state park system where hunting is allowed.

(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit access to state park system units for persons with guide dogs, signal dogs, service dogs, or other service animals, or for riding animals, pack animals, or livestock, as permitted by this section, as this section read on December 31, 2018, or any other law.

(f) No later than July 1, 2019, the department shall establish and maintain on its Internet Web site a comprehensive, up-to-date list of each state park system unit with information on whether the unit or a portion of the unit allows dogs, and additional information that may include, but is not limited to, the specific areas of a unit in which dogs are allowed and the total miles of trail in the unit that are open to dogs.