Falconry: American peregrine falcons.

Existing law authorizes the Fish and Game Commission to adopt regulations for the possession or training, and the capture, importation, exportation, or intrastate transfer, of birds in the orders Falconiformes and Strigiformes (birds-of-prey) used in the practice of falconry. Existing law authorizes the commission to authorize the issuance and provide for the revocation of licenses and permits to persons for the practice of falconry. Existing law also prohibits the taking or possession at any time of fully protected birds, as specified. Existing law designates the American peregrine falcon as a fully protected bird. This bill would exempt the capture, possession, or training of an American peregrine falcon in the practice of falconry from the prohibitions in the fully protected bird statute. The bill would prohibit regulations from being adopted for the possession, training, capture, importation, exportation, or intrastate transfer of American peregrine falcons used in the practice of falconry unless the Legislature provides an appropriation in the annual Budget Act or another statute for that purpose. The bill would require the department, contingent upon appropriation of funds in the annual Budget Act or another statute, to submit 2 reports to certain committees of the Legislature, on or before specified dates, regarding the use of American peregrine falcons and other raptors in falconry, as specified.