The deadline has passed for bills to be introduced in the California state Legislature. AKC is monitoring several bills impacting dog owners in California. Below are a few highlights. To see the complete list visit the AKC legislative action center at www.akcgr.org and/or the AKC legislative tracker. AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) will continue to provide updates and alerts on these and other bills that could impact you.
Also, please welcome the AKC GR team’s newest Regional Analyst/ Community Outreach Coordinator, Bob Rilling-Smith. Bob is based out of the Sacramento area and will have responsibility for the US Western States region, including California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Montana, and Idaho.
Bob can be contacted at: bxr@akc.org or via phone at (919) 816-3960.
Bills in California state Legislature:
- Assembly Bill 554 – Corporations for the prevention of cruelty to animals: enforcement of laws.
Status: Referred to Judiciary; hearing scheduled for March 14.
Summary: This bill would clarify animal cruelty enforcement and could make it easier for an owner’s animals to be seized without traditional due process protections. AKC has numerous concerns with the bill and underlying law.
What You Can Do: This bill has been introduced by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (Los Angeles and Ventura Counties). You are encouraged to express your concern at (916) 319-2046 or assemblymember.gabriel@assembly.ca.gov. If you are a constituent, be sure to mention that when contacting them (Click HERE to find out who your assemblymember is).
- Assembly Bill 1215 – Pets Assistance with Support Grant Program: homeless shelters: domestic violence shelters: pets.
Status: Referred to Emergency Management Committee
Summary: Currently, many shelters for domestic violence victims and homeless people are not able to accommodate people with pets, causing many to avoid the shelter system. This bill would use state grants to allow for domestic violence and homeless shelters to be able accommodate pets with the goal of removing more people from harmful situations. The AKC supports this proposal.
What You Can Do: This bill has been introduced by Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo (Los Angeles County). You are encouraged to express your support for making it easier for these vulnerable people and their pets to access housing at (916) 319-2052 or assemblymember.carrillo@assembly.ca.gov. If you are a constituent, be sure to mention that when contacting them (Click HERE to find out who your assemblymember is).
- Assembly Bill 781 – Accessibility to emergency information and services: emergency shelters: persons with pets.
Status: Awaiting committee referral.
Summary: This bill would require a county, on or before July 1, 2024, to update its emergency plan to designate emergency shelters able to accommodate persons with pets. The AKC supports this bill.
What You Can Do: This bill has been introduced by Assemblymember Brian K. Maienschein (San Diego County). You are encouraged to express your support at (916) 319-2076 or assemblymember.maienschein@assembly.ca.gov. If you are a constituent, be sure to mention that when contacting them (Click HERE to find out who your assemblymember is).
- Assembly Bill 240 – Dogs and cats: California Spay-Neuter Fund.
Status: Referred to the Committees on Agriculture and Revenue and Taxation; awaiting hearing.
Summary: This proposal would create a dedicated tax on the sale of pet food for cats and dogs in order to provide dedicated funding to animal shelters for the spaying and neutering of animals. The bill has since been amended by the sponsor so that the proposed tax would be collected from the food manufacturer on an annual basis of $200 per SKU sold in the state. AKC strongly supports low-cost spay/neuter programs. However, given the current high cost of food, AKC has questions over this bill in the way it’s currently constructed.
What You Can Do: This bill has been introduced by Assemblymember Ash Kalra (Santa Clara County). You are encouraged to express your comments at (408) 286-2535 or assemblymember.kalra@assembly.ca.gov. If you are a constituent, be sure to mention that when contacting them (Click HERE to find out who your assemblymember is). - Assembly Bill 742 – Law enforcement: police canines.
Status: Awaiting committee referral.
Summary: This bill would prevent the use of police canines for the purpose of arrest, apprehension, or any form of crowd control. AKC recognizes the value of highly trained working K9s for a wide variety of jobs including detection, search and rescue, and other public safety functions. Rather than limiting the safety functions of properly trained working K9s, AKC encourages the bill’s sponsor to focus on ensuring that law enforcement canines and their handlers have the proper and up-to-date training and certifications they need to keep all Californians safe.
What You Can Do: This bill has been introduced by Assemblymember Dr. Corey Jackson (Riverside County). Those who wish to express their concerns over making it harder for law enforcement to protect public safety may contact the author at (916) 319-2060 or assemblymember.jackson@assembly.ca.gov. If you are a constituent, be sure to mention that when contacting them (Click HERE to find out who your assemblymember is).
AKC Government Relations continues to monitor bills in California impacting dog owners and will provide updates. For questions or more information, contact AKC GR at doglaw@akc.org.