|
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE!
2023 Social Compassion in Legislation Sponsored Bills & Other Animal Related Legislation
As we approach the legislature's summer recess when they are on break from July 17th thru Aug 11th, we wanted to give you an update on all the animal related legislation we've been either sponsoring or actively supporting.
This year we are sponsoring three bills and an audit request and are actively lobbying in support (or opposing, if necessary) several more.
As always, your support in the form of letters, calls, and social media engagement has been key to moving these bills through the legislature. THANK YOU!
Sponsored Bills**
AB 332 (Lee), the Shelter Animal Data Collection Act: this bill would require the Department of Public Health to collect in-take and outcome data, including vaccination, adoption, and euthanasia figures from the municipal animal shelters. MOVING WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT; CURRENTLY IN SENATE APPROPRIATIONS CMTE.
AB 829 (Waldron), the Animal Cruelty & Violence Intervention Act: this bill would expand the list of animal abuse laws which require mandated counseling when violated. MOVING WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT; CURRENTLY IN SENATE APPROPRIATIONS CMTE.
ACR 86 (Kalra), the Pet Crisis Response Act: a bill calling on various actions by the state, the Veterinary Medical Board, local municipalities, public and private shelters, nonprofit rescue organizations, and private foundations to increase their support for long-term spay and neuter services, veterinary care licensing, and shelter animal adoption to address pet overpopulation. MOVING WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT; CURRENTLY IN SENATE CMTE. ON BUSINESS, PROFESSIONS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
Audit Request Re: the California Deforestation-free Procurement Act (Kalra). SCIL worked with Assemblymember Kalra to request an audit through the Joint Committee on Legislative Audit (JLAC) to calculate how much of our state's procurement contain products harvested from tropical forests. This will help quantify the impact California's procurement has on tropical deforestation. **This is not a bill, but rather a request for audit.
THE AUDIT REQUEST WAS APPROVED WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND IS ESTIMATED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
Bills that SCIL is actively supporting:
Currently in the Senate Appropriations Committee:
AB 57 (Kalra), a bill to create "pocket forests" in urban settings.
AB 357 (Maienschein), a bill to require manufacturers to report various animal testing activities to the Attorney General.
AB 528 (Irwin), a bill that would authorize a public or private cemetery to designate a separate, clearly marked section of the cemetery where deceased pets could be buried with their deceased owners.
AB 781 (Maienschein), a bill that would require a county to update its emergency plan to designate emergency shelters able to accommodate persons with pets.
AB 1215 (Carrillo), a bill to create a grant program for the provision of shelter, food, and veterinary services for pets owned by people experiencing homelessness or escaping domestic violence.
AB 1322 (Friedman), a bill to ban pesticides, specifically second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide diphacinone, which is killing our wildlife.
AB 1399 (Friedman), a bill to allow veterinarians to authorize a licensee to practice veterinary medicine via telehealth, as specified.
AB 1628 (McKinnor), a bill requiring all new washing machines sold for residential, commercial, and state use contain a microfiber filtration system to protect marine life.
Currently awaiting a vote by full Assembly:
SB 371 (Ochoa Bogh), a bill to authorize a nonprofit to contract with a county to adopt undomesticated burros.
| 
