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]