California Wildlife Coexistence Act.

Plain English Breakdown

The exact details and operational specifics of the programs and committee depend on future legislative appropriations.

California Wildlife Coexistence Act

This act requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife to establish programs that promote peaceful coexistence between humans and wildlife if funding is appropriated by the Legislature.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife to establish the Wildlife Coexistence Program upon appropriation by the Legislature, which includes maintaining a statewide wildlife incident reporting tool.
• Changes the Wolf-Livestock Compensation Pilot Program into the Wolf-Livestock Coexistence and Compensation Program upon appropriation by the Legislature, providing resources for eligible participants dealing with wolves and livestock.
• Establishes the Wildlife Coexistence Technical Advisory Committee to provide technical guidance and recommendations related to wildlife coexistence efforts upon appropriation by the Legislature.

Who It Names or Affects

• The Department of Fish and Wildlife in California
• Farmers who have livestock that interact with wildlife

Terms To Know

Wildlife Coexistence Program

A program created by the Department of Fish and Wildlife to help people live peacefully with wildlife, if funding is provided.

Wolf-Livestock Compensation Pilot Program

Renamed as the Wolf-Livestock Coexistence and Compensation Program, providing resources for eligible participants dealing with wolves and livestock, upon appropriation by the Legislature.

Limits and Unknowns

• The programs will only be established if the Legislature provides funding.
• Details about how the Wildlife Coexistence Technical Advisory Committee will operate are not fully explained in the bill text.

Official Summary Text

SB 1135, as amended, Blakespear.
California Wildlife Coexistence Act.
Existing law establishes the Department of Fish and Wildlife in the Natural Resources Agency. Under existing law, the department has jurisdiction over the conservation, protection, and management of fish, wildlife, native plants, and habitat necessary for biologically sustainable populations of those species.
This bill would require the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to establish the Wildlife Coexistence Program to manage and promote wildlife coexistence by conducting specified activities, including maintaining a statewide wildlife incident reporting tool. The bill would rename the Wolf-Livestock Compensation Pilot Program to the Wolf-Livestock Coexistence and Compensation Program and would require the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to establish the program to provide resources to eligible participants
for purposes relating to wolves and livestock. The bill would authorize the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, including the cost for implementation, to provide resources to wildlife coexistence partners, as defined, to support efforts required for the Wildlife Coexistence Program and the Wolf-Livestock Coexistence and Compensation Program. The bill would require the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to establish the Wildlife Coexistence Technical Advisory Committee to provide technical guidance, public input, and programmatic recommendations related to the department’s wildlife coexistence efforts. The bill would require the department, on or before July 1, 2028, to include specified information on its internet website, as provided.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF