The California Endangered Species Act requires the Fish and Game Commission to establish a list of endangered species and a list of threatened species and to add or remove species from either list if it finds, upon the receipt of sufficient scientific information, as specified, that the action is warranted. The act prohibits the taking of an endangered or threatened species, except under certain circumstances.

This bill would prohibit the imposition of a civil, administrative, or criminal penalty for a violation of the take prohibition if the defendant committed the act based on a good faith belief that they were acting to protect themselves, a member of their family, or any other individual from bodily harm from an animal listed pursuant to the act.