FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CA ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE PASSES
SB 313 CIRCUS CRUELTY PREVENTION ACT
SB 313 (Hueso), co-sponsored by SCIL and PETA, prohibits the use of animals as performers in all circuses
TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 2019 – SACRAMENTO – State legislation banning the use of animals in circuses in California has been passed by the Assembly’s Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife. Senate Bill 313, the Circus Cruelty Prevention Act passed on a 9-2-2 vote.
Wild bears, tigers, elephants and exotic animals in circuses are carted around the country, often in extreme conditions, and are forced to do difficult, unnatural tricks. If they don’t perform, sometimes they are beaten.
“There are many ways to teach children and others about wildlife without loading animals in cages, hauling them around and subjecting them to the stress of unfamiliar environments,” said state Sen. Ben Hueso (D-San Diego), author of SB 313. “This bill doesn’t restrict legitimate animal sanctuaries and rehabilitation centers. Instead, it is aimed at circuses and other companies that make money from practices that are inherently cruel to animals.”
Circuses travel nearly year-round, in all types of weather, sometimes for days at a time. As they move from coast to coast, animals are confined to trailers and trucks, where they may not have access to necessities, such as food, water and veterinary care.
Elephants are chained and big cats are kept in small cases where they eat, drink, sleep, defecate and urinate. The conditions create public safety hazards when animals, frustrated by years of such treatment, escape and strike out at handlers and members of the public.
“California’s existing laws have failed to protect animals in circuses that roll into town from other parts of the country,” said Judie Mancuso, Founder and CEO of Social Compassion in Legislation (SCIL), co-sponsor of SB 313 and several other bills on animal rights and protection. “Some animals have died on the road due to heat, exhaustion and malnutrition. Cubs are being taken from their mothers and are being kept in small animal carriers where they have died for lack of care.
“The public rejects the exploitation of animals and refuses to tolerate incidents of abuse and neglect. California circuses have already stopped using animals. We need to close this loophole and ensure that circuses based outside California are prohibited from coming to town with animals.”
“Compassionate Californians don't want to see elephants, tigers and camels caged, chained or beaten for circus shows, and California’s lawmakers are taking action,” said Rachel Mathews, PETA Foundation Deputy Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement.
SB 313 VOTES IN ASSEMBLY WATER, PARKS & WILDLIFE COMMITTEE
"YES":
Kansen Chu (D), Laura Friedman (D), Christina Garcia (D), Eduardo Garcia (D), Todd Gloria (D), Ash Kalra (D), Marc Levine (D), Blanca Rubio (D),
Jim Wood (D)
"NOES"
:
James Gallagher (R), Rudy Salas (D)
HEARD TESTIMONY AND ABSTAINED:
Frank Bigelow (R), Steven Choi (R)
SB 313 still needs to pass the Assembly Judiciary Committee, Assembly Appropriations Committee, and then to the full Assembly (Floor) for a vote, then to Governor Newsom for signature.
