Here is the current status of California's ferret amnesty bill, as I
understand it.  The Senate amended the bill to remove the requirement for
an impact study.  Therefore, the commission will make its determination
about whether or not to remove ferrets from the list of prohibited
species based on existing information and public testimony.
 
Because the study has been removed, the bill will most likely bypass the
Assembly Appropriations Committee.  Previous ferret legislation has done
very well on the Assembly floor.  Also, the Senate approved this year's
bill by such a wide margin that they should be able to easily override a
veto if the Governor chooses to go that route.  That's the good news.
 
HOWEVER, SB 1093 still has to make it through the Assembly Water, Parks
and Wildlife Committee.  This committee contains many new members as well
as some members who have opposed ferret legislation in the past.  If your
assemblymember is on this committee, it is essential that you write and
politely urge him or her to support this bill.  Ask your friends and family
members to send in letters as well.  Be sure to include your name and
address so they will know you are in their district.  All Californians
may write to the chairperson, Assemblymember Dean Florez.  The bill could
be heard as early as next week, so get your letters in right away.  The
committe members and districts are:
 
Dean Florez, Chair - 30
Richard L. Dickerson, Vice Chair - 2
Dennis Hollingsworth - 66
Dave Kelley - 80
Phil Wyman - 34
Samuel M. Aanestad - 3
Tim Leslie - 4
Dion Aroner - 14
Thomas M. Calderon - 58
Howard Wayne - 78
Helen Thomson - 8
Dario Frommer - 43
Jackie Goldberg - 45
Christine Kehoe -76
Fran Pavley - 41
 
More information is available at http://www.ferretnews.org.
 
Good luck, California!
An anonymous ferret mom
[Posted in FML issue 3444]