Bill > SB818

This bill establishes a comprehensive pilot program in El Dorado County to address increasing human-mountain lion conflicts, focusing on public safety and wildlife management. The Department of Fish and Wildlife is required to develop a five-year "Tree and Free" program by January 1, 2027, which will authorize trained houndspersons (hunters with tracking dogs) to proactively haze mountain lions deemed potential threats to public safety, livestock, or domestic animals. The department must collaborate with local experts to define the program's geographic scope and will require permitted houndspersons to purchase an annual hazing permit. Additionally, the bill mandates that the department maintain and expand its human-mountain lion conflicts program in El Dorado County, including developing a grant program to help local entities protect livestock and domestic animals, continuing scientific research to understand and reduce mountain lion conflicts, and engaging in public outreach. The department must provide annual status updates to the Legislature and submit a comprehensive report by October 1, 2030, detailing the program's results and recommendations. The legislation is specifically tailored to address the recent increase in mountain lion encounters, including a fatal attack on a young person, and aims to restore a natural fear of humans and dogs among mountain lions through non-lethal intervention. The bill will expire on January 1, 2032, and requires a four-fifths vote of the Legislature to amend, in keeping with the California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB818