(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Fur” means any animal skin or part thereof with hair, fleece, or fur fibers attached thereto, either in its raw or processed state.

(2) (A) “Fur product” means any article of clothing or covering for any part of the body, or any fashion accessory, including, but not limited to, handbags, shoes, slippers, hats, earmuffs, scarves, shawls, gloves, jewelry, keychains, toys or trinkets, and home accessories and decor, that is made in whole or in part of fur.

(B) “Fur product” does not include any of the following:

(i) A dog or cat fur product, as defined in Section 1308 of Title 19 of the United States Code, as that section read on January 1, 2020.

(ii) An animal skin or part thereof that is to be converted into leather, which in processing will have the hair, fleece, or fur fiber completely removed.

(iii) Cowhide with hair attached thereto.

(iv) Deerskin, sheepskin, or goatskin with hair attached thereto.

(v) The pelt or skin of an animal that is preserved through taxidermy.

(vi) A product made pursuant to Section 3087 or 4303.

(3) “Taxidermy” means the practice of preparing, stuffing, and mounting the skin, in lifelike form, of any fish, reptile, amphibian, bird, or mammal.

(4) “Ultimate consumer” means a person who buys for their own use, or for the use of another, but not for resale or trade.

(5) “Used fur product” means fur in any form that has been worn or used by an ultimate consumer.

(b) (1) It is unlawful to sell, offer for sale, display for sale, trade, or otherwise distribute for monetary or nonmonetary consideration a fur product in the state.

(2) It is unlawful to manufacture a fur product in the state for sale.

(c) The prohibitions set forth in subdivision (b) do not apply to any of the following:

(1) A used fur product.

(2) A fur product used for religious purposes.

(3) A fur product used for traditional tribal, cultural, or spiritual purposes by a member of a federally recognized Native American tribe or a nonfederally recognized California Native American tribe listed on the California Tribal Consultation List maintained by the Native American Heritage Commission.

(4) Any activity expressly authorized by federal law.

(d) A person who sells or trades any used fur product or fur product described in subdivision (c) shall maintain a record of each sale or trade of one of those exempt fur products for at least one year. A person who reports the receipt or purchase of a used fur product or fur product described in subdivision (c) pursuant to Section 21628 of the Business and Professions Code shall be deemed to satisfy this subdivision. A violation of this subdivision is not subject to a criminal or civil penalty.

(e) (1) A person who violates subdivision (b) may be subject to the following civil penalties:

(A) For the first violation and for a violation that does not meet the requirements of subparagraph (B) or (C), a civil penalty of up to five hundred dollars ($500).

(B) For a violation that occurred within one year of a previous violation, a civil penalty of up to seven hundred fifty dollars ($750).

(C) For a violation that occurred within one year of a second or subsequent violation, a civil penalty of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000).

(2) Each fur product that constitutes a violation of subdivision (b) shall be treated as a separate violation in a civil action brought pursuant to this section.

(f) (1) In lieu of seeking prosecution of a violation of subdivision (b) as a misdemeanor, the department, the Attorney General, or the city attorney of the city or the district attorney or county counsel of the county in which a violation of subdivision (b) occurs, may bring a civil action to recover the civil penalty in subdivision (e). The civil action shall be brought in the county in which the violation occurs and any penalty imposed shall be transferred to the Controller for deposit in the Fish and Game Preservation Fund in accordance with Section 13001 and used exclusively for the purposes described in Section 1771 and for the enforcement of this section.

(2) In an action brought under this section, in addition to the penalty specified in subdivision (e), the reasonable costs of investigation, reasonable attorney’s fees, and reasonable expert witness’ fees may also be recovered and those amounts shall be credited to the same operating funds as those from which the expenditures for those purposes were derived.

(g) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2023.

(h) The provisions of this section are severable. If any provision of this section or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.

(Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 764, Sec. 1. (AB 44) Effective January 1, 2020. Operative January 1, 2023, by its own provisions.)