Post Office Box 2098, El Cerrito, California 94530
Telephone: 510.525.2744 • Facsimile: 510.525.2772
Email ed@californiastatehumane.org

Legislation

2007-08 Legislation
California Legislature FAQ

Key Animal-Related Legislation  2008

Bill #	Name	Legislator	Summary	Position	Status 7/1/08
AB 1634	Spay/Neuter	Levine	Would require mandatory spay/neuter for dogs that have been impounded three times and cats that have been impounded two times. Also requires mandatory spay/neuter for dogs that have been the subject of three complaints and cats that have been the subject of two complaints. Imposes civil penalties and requires owner to pay cost of spay/neuter.	Neutral	Re-referred to Comm on Appropriations.
AB 1938	Spay/Neuter Tax Credit	Plescia	Would allow an income tax credit of 25% of the amount paid for spay/neuter of up to two dogs/cats per year.	Neutral w/suggestions	In Assembly Revenue & Taxation suspense file.
AB 2098	Downed Animals	Krekorian	Would prohibit the purchase, sale, or receipt of downed cattle, swine, sheep or goats by slaughterhouses, stockyards, auctions, market agencies, or dealers	Support	Placed in Senate second reading file.
AB 2233	Animals in Laps	Maze	Would prohibit a person from driving a motor vehicle while holding an animal in arm or lap. Would be enforced by peace officers.	Support	Passed Senate Transportation & Housing Comm hearing and re-referred to Appropriations Comm.
AB 2281	Dog Fighting	Nava	Would increase the penalty under Penal Code section 597.5 for being intentionally present at a dogfight to felony or misdemeanor instead of misdemeanor only.	Support	Held under submission in Assembly Appropriations Comm.
AB 2291	Spay/Neuter Fund	Mendoza	Would allow taxpayers to designate on tax returns a specific amount in excess of tax liability be transferred to a Low Cost/Free Spay-Neuter Fund. Dept of Food & Ag responsible for allocation to municipal shelters. Should include SPCAs and humane societies but does not.	Support w/ recommendation	Passed Senate Comm on Revenue & Taxation and re-referred to Comm on Appropriations.
AB 2427	Professions & Vocations	Eng	Amends Business & Profession Code section 460 to ban cities and counties from prohibiting a "person or group of persons" licensed through the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) from "engaging in any act or series of acts that fall within the statutory or regulatory definition of that business, occupation or profession." Eliminates the ability of cities/counties to exercise police powers to regulate the way that a DCA licensee performs his/her business/profession.	Oppose	Placed in Senate second reading file.
AB 2949	Abandoned Pets	DeSaulnier	Would provide that an involuntary deposit is created when an animal is left at real property at end of lease or upon foreclosure.	Support	Passed Assembly. Hearing in Senate Judiciary Comm on 6/24.
ACR 103	Take Your Dog to Work Day	Plescia	Would declare June 20, 2008 as Take Your Dog to Work Day	Support	Referred to RLS. No other action.
SB 1775	Dogfighting – Forfeitures	Calderon	Would provide forfeiture procedures for certain property connected with the crime of dogfighting	Support	Failed.
SB 1773	Pet Food Labels	Corbett	Would require that pet-food manufacturers provide greater information regarding pet food manufactured in and imported into California.	Support	Held under submission in Senate Appropriations Comm.
SB 685	Pet Trusts	Yee	Would strengthen existing pet trust law.	Support	To Governor.
SB 986	Pet Stores	Ridley-Thomas	Revises euthanasia language and definition covered animals.	Neutral	To third reading in Assembly.
Prop 2	Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act	N/A	Would prohibit the confinement of calves raised for veal, egg-laying hens, and gestating sows in a manner that does not allow them to turn around freely, lie down, stand up, and fully extend their limbs. Violation of the Act would constitute a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1000 and/or imprisonment in the county jail for up to 180 days.	Support	Will appear on Nov. 2008 ballot

To check the current status of a bill, go the to Official California Legislative Information website by clicking here.   

California Legislature FAQ

1. How does a bill become law?

2. Where can I get detailed information on a particular bill?

3. I don't know who my senator and assembly member are. How can I find out?

4. How many senators and assembly members are there in California?

5. Why is my senate district different than my assembly district?

6. How often are state legislators elected? Does California have terms limits?

1.  How does a bill become a law?
When one of our legislators -- senator or assembly member -- seeks to introduce a bill, that legislator works with the Office of Legislative Counsel to draft the bill.  If the author of the bill is a senator, the draft bill is introduced on the floor of the Senate; if the author of the bill is an assembly member, the bill is read or introduced in the Assembly.  Thereafter, the bill is sent to the Office of State Printing.

A minimum of 30 days from the date of introduction, the bill is sent to the Rules Committee of the house in which the bill was introduced for assignment to the appropriate policy committee(s) for hearing.  At the hearing, the author presents the bill and testimony is heard in support of and in opposition to the bill from members of the public.  The committee then votes on the bill, which yields one of three possible outcomes.  The bill is either 1) passed, 2) passed as amended by the committee, or 3) defeated.

If the bill is passed (either the original or as amended), it is read for a second time in the house in which the bill was introduced and then the bill is assigned for a third reading.  Prior to the third reading, an analysis of the bill is prepared.  During the third reading, the author explains the bill, members discuss the bill, and a vote is taken by roll call.  Bills that require appropriation or take effect immediately require 27 votes in the Senate (out of a possible total of 40 ) and 54 votes in the Assembly (out of a possible total of  80).  All other bills require 21 votes in the Senate and 41 votes in the Assembly.

If the bill is passed, it is then sent to the other house, where the above process is repeated.  If the bill is amended in the second house, it must be sent back to the original house for approval.  If the original house does not approve the bill, it is sent to a  two-house conference committee to negotiate a bill that is satisfactory to both houses.  If a comprise is reached, the bill is sent back to both houses for a vote.

If the bill is approved by both the Senate and the Assembly, it is sent to the Governor, who may take one of three actions.  The Governor may 1) sign the bill into law, 2) allow the bill to become law without signature, or 3) veto the bill.  If the Governor vetoes the bill, it can still be passed by a 2/3 vote in both the Senate and Assembly.  If the bill becomes law, it generally goes into effect on January 1 of the following year.

2.  Where can I get detailed information on a particular bill?
Go to the Office of Legislative Counsel's official California legislative information website at www.leginfo.ca.gov and click on the "Bill Information" tab.  You will see detailed information about a bill, including its author, amendments, history, status, and analyses.

3.  I don't know who my senator and assembly member are. How can I find out?
Go to the Office of Legislative Counsel's official California legislative information website at www.leginfo.ca.gov and click on the "Your Legislature" tab.  You will also find useful links to legislators' web pages, legislative committees, the legislative calendar, and other related topics.

4.  How many senators and assembly members are there in California?
There are 40 Senators and 80 Assembly persons.

5.  Why is my senate district different than my assembly district?
California is divided into 40 Senate districts.  Within each Senate district, there are two Assembly districts, for a total of 80 Assembly districts.  To view a map of the Senate districts, click here.  To view a map of the Assembly districts in PDF format, click here.

6.  How often are state legislators elected? Does California have terms limits?
One-half of the Senators are elected or re-elected every 2 years for four-year terms.  A Senator may serve a total of two 4-year terms.  All Assembly members are elected or re-elected every two years for 2-year terms.  An Assembly member may serve a total of three 2-year terms.