Migratory birds: California Migratory Bird Protection Act.

Plain English Breakdown

The official text does not provide specific details on penalties for violations or the duration of the act's effectiveness.

California Migratory Bird Protection Act

The California Migratory Bird Protection Act makes it illegal to harm, possess, or take migratory birds and their parts unless allowed by law.

What This Bill Does

• Makes it against the law to hurt, capture, or keep any migratory bird in California.
• Expands protection to include all migratory birds designated under federal laws after January 1, 2025.
• Repeals a specific rule that was set to end on January 20, 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who might harm migratory birds in California.

Terms To Know

Migratory Bird Treaty Act

A federal law that protects migratory birds, their nests, and eggs.

State-mandated local program

When the state requires local governments or schools to do something new, which might cost them money.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify what happens if someone breaks this law.
• The bill does not say how long it will be in effect.
• It only applies to migratory birds and their parts, not other types of wildlife.

Official Summary Text

AB 454, Kalra.
Migratory birds: California Migratory Bird Protection Act.
Existing federal law, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, provides for the protection of migratory birds, as specified. The federal act also authorizes states and territories of the United States to make and enforce laws or regulations that give further protection to migratory birds, their nests, and eggs. Existing law, the California Migratory Bird Protection Act, until January 20, 2025, made unlawful the taking or possession of any migratory nongame bird designated in the federal act before January 1, 2017, any additional migratory nongame bird that may be designated in the federal act after that date, or any part of those migratory nongame birds, except as provided. Existing law, as of January 1, 2026, repeals this provision.
This bill would, indefinitely, make unlawful the taking or possessing of any migratory bird, as designated in the federal
act before January 1, 2025, any additional migratory birds that may be designated in the federal act after that date, or any part of those migratory birds, except as provided.
Existing law, operative January 20, 2025, makes it unlawful to take or possess any migratory nongame bird as designated in the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, or any part of a migratory nongame bird, except as provided.
This bill would repeal this provision.
Under existing law, a violation of the Fish and Game Code is a crime. By narrowing the exception to a crime defined in existing law, the bill would expand the scope of a crime, thus imposing a state-mandated local program.
The
California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF