2011 California Animal Legislation Wrap-Up
“A dog starved at his master’s gate predicts the ruin of the state.”
— William Blake
PASSED
AB 42 by Assemblymember Jared Huffman authorizes agreements with non-profit organizations for the care and maintenance of state parks, 70 of which may be closed due to budget cuts. Closing these parks invites trespassers and poachers. Paw PAC supported this measure.
AB 109 by the Assembly Budget Committee amends anti-cruelty laws, along with many other codes, to send those convicted of felonies to serve their time in county jails instead of state prisons.
AB 222 by the Assembly Agriculture Committee defines “business day” for the purpose of holding periods in animal control shelters to include any day the shelter is open 4 hours.
AB 258 by Assemblymember Curt Hagman allows exemption of rabies shot requirement for dogs with medical conditions as determined by a vet. Paw PAC supported this measure.
AB 376 by Assemblymembers Paul Fong and Jared Huffman prohibits possession and sale of shark fins. Shark populations are threatened by the cruel practice of cutting off fins and throwing their amputated bodies back into the sea. Over 73 million sharks are killed for soup. Paw PAC supported this measure.
AB 564 by Assemblymember Cameron Smyth re-authorizes the state tax check-off for spay/neuter to be distributed as grants to municipal shelters. Paw PAC supported this measure.
AB 634 by Assemblymember Alyson Huber authorizes the use of carbon monoxide for the next five years in the killing of burrowing wildlife considered “pests”, such as gophers.
AB 971 by Assemblymember Bill Monning extends the Sea Otter tax check-off for five more years to protect sea otters. Paw PAC supported this measure.
AB 1112 by Assemblymember Jared Huffman requires inspection of high risk oil transfers and authorizes the state to increase per barrel fee by 1 ½ cents to help pay for oil spill prevention. Paw PAC supported this measure.
AB 1117 by Assemblymember Cameron Smyth strengthens existing law on confiscation and holding of animals in cruelty cases and imposes a $1000 fine if the perpetrator violates a judge’s order not to have animals. Paw PAC supported this measure.
SB 164 by Senator Joe Simitian extends the Rare and Endangered Species Program Tax Check-Off to 2018. Paw PAC supported this measure.
SB 425 by Senator Ron Calderon establishes minimum fines for dog and cock fighting and allows for property forfeitures for cock fighting as is currently provided for dog fighting. Paw PAC supported this measure.
SB 426 by Senator Ron Calderon allows eviction of tenants whose property is used for dog or cock fighting. Paw PAC supported this measure.
SB 769 by Senator Jean Fuller allows exhibition of legally killed mountain lions for education or science.
AB 853 by Assemblymembers Paul Fong and Jared Huffman allows sales of stockpiles until July 2013 of shark fins possessed before January 2012. Paw PAC opposed this measure.
SB 917 by Senator Ted Lieu makes criminal penalties consistent (possible felonies) for animal abuse and prohibits sales of animals on streets, parking lots, highways, carnivals, and boardwalks. Paw PAC supported this measure.
VETOED
AB 1121 by Assemblymember Richard Pan would have authorized animal control agencies to require puppies to be licensed. Requires breeders (selling 20 dogs or 3 litters per year), rescue groups, humane societies, and pet shops to monthly report adopters/buyers’ names to animal control to enforce licensing requirements. Paw PAC supported this measure.
SB 168 by Senator Ellen Corbett would have prohibited signature gatherers from being paid per signature, making it more difficult for animal and other initiatives to qualify for the ballot. Paw PAC opposed this measure.
SB 702 by Senator Ted Lieu would have required dogs/cats to be microchipped when adopted/reclaimed from animal control. Paw PAC supported this measure.
SB 752 by Senator Tom Berryhill would have required Fish and Game Dept., if requested by the licensee, to release contact information to hunting organizations when selling hunting licenses. Paw PAC opposed this measure.
DEFEATED/DROPPED/POSTPONED
(Many of these are expected to be brought up again in 2012)
AB 88 by Assemblymember Jared Huffman requires labeling of genetically engineered salmon. Paw PAC supported this measure.
AB 610 by Assemblymember Jose Solorio starts a pilot program to lower the number of license plate orders from the required 7,500 to 2,500 and allows private donations to the spay/neuter fund. Paw PAC supported this measure.
AB 606 by Assemblymember Mike Gatto Requires the Fish and Game Dept. to allow hunting and other “wildlife dependent activities” as a priority on land under the Wildlife Conservation Board. Paw PAC opposed this measure.
AB 1046 by Assemblymember Bill Berryhill prohibits Fish & Game Commission to ban hunting. Paw PAC opposed this measure.
AB 1162 by Assemblymember Wes Chesbro increases the maximum fine to $40,000 for poaching wildlife or using artificial light/bait for poaching trophy deer, elk, antelope, and bighorn sheep. Wild turkey fine is $2,000. Creates new crime of using “signal emitting device” when poaching bears to sell their parts (gall bladders) and fines them $10,000 per part. Paw PAC supported this measure.
AB 1279 by Assemblymember Nathan Fletcher amends existing law to replace “pound” with “animal shelter”, “destroy” to “euthanasia” of injured animals and “unwanted” to “surrendered.” Paw PAC supported this measure.
AB 1299 by Assemblymember Jared Huffman declares a policy of the state to conserve “forage fish” (herring, sardine, anchovy, squid, shrimp, and plankton) upon whom marine life is dependent. Paw PAC supported this measure.
ACA 10 by Assemblymember Mike Gatto allows the Legislature to amend an initiative after it has passed into law. Paw PAC opposed this measure.
ACA 12 by Assemblymember Mike Gatto allows the Legislature to propose amendments to an initiative. If proponents agree with amendments, it will go on the ballot. If amendments are not accepted, they must be presented in the ballot materials. Paw PAC opposed this measure.
SB 241 by Senator Anthony Cannella sidesteps the judicial review process provided in the Calif Environmental Quality Act. Paw PAC opposed this measure.
SB 580 by Senator Lois Wolk prohibits land acquired for state parks from being used or sold for non-park purposes. Paw PAC supported this measure.
SB 657 by Senator Ted Gaines repeals prohibition of equipment which sucks up river and creek bottoms for gold, killing fish and emitting mercury and noise affecting wildlife in riparian habitats. Paw PAC opposed this measure.
SB 697 by Senator Bill Emmerson sets up procedure to penalize non-veterinarians for treating animals. Paw PAC opposed this measure.
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Legislative List was compiled by Virginia Handley who has lobbied for animals in the State Legislature since 1972. She worked for best-selling author and animal activist, Cleveland Amory, for over 30 years. In 1970 she started Animal Switchboard, 415-474-4021, which continues to provide 24/7 counseling and referrals for Bay Area animal problems.
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