CFA Info

CFA Legislative ALERT

CALIFORNIA AB1634

See the text of AB 1634 and the CFA letter to the Committee members.  

ORGANIZATIONS and CLUBS:  Send your faxes NOW to be received by the Committee Consultant, Peter Detwiler by mid afternoon today to be included in the Bill Analysis OPPOSE list.  

    **Send your letters on Organization or Club letterhead.

    **Reference the new title - " Re: OPPOSE AB 1634 amended June 18, 2008"                                              An act to amend Sections 30804.7 and 31751.7 of, and to                                             add Sections 30804.8 and 31751.8 to, the Food and                                             Agricultural Code, relating to animals.   

Dear Mr. Detwiler;  

I am writing to request that (your organization or club) be placed on the list of organizations OPPOSED to AB 1634 as amended on June 18, 2008 in Bill Analysis.  Considering the short notice for this bill, if the analysis is already completed please put our organization on a subsequent follow up list to be provided for the Committee members before the hearing on June 25th. 

Make a few points - only a few lines are needed for Mr. Detwiler.  More in your own words for Committee members.  

MOST IMPORTANT:  

INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS: Send letters to all five Committee Members NOW (at least by Monday). 
RE: OPPOSE AB 1634 as Amended 6/18/08
"An act to amend Sections 30804.7 and 31751.7 of, and to add Sections 30804.8 and 31751.8 to, the Food and Agricultural Code, relating to animals."

Suggested points to consider:  

"Please vote against AB1634.  

**    This bill imposes punishment for multiple impounds of cats or dogs.  Fee of $50 for first impound incident of an intact cat on top of other expense to reclaim will mean more cats will be left in the shelter.  Cats must be sterilized on SECOND impound for any reason even fire, earthquake or other disaster.  Breeding cats are kept indoors but can possibly escape or be let out by mistake. There is no due process, no administrative hearing.  What if a cat is pregnant or surgery would risk the health of the cat?  Pedigreed breeding cats are unfairly targeted by a law that confiscates their reproductive value without due process.  

** COMPLAINTS from disgruntled neighbors, or any person who wants to harass someone with an intact dog or cat would be encouraged by this bill.  Cats must be sterilized on the second complaint received claiming the cat's "behavior" or the owner has violated ANY provision in State law that relates to cats.  There is no time frame - so two complaints in one day means the loss of a pedigreed cat's reproductive value.  No administrative hearing is afforded the owner.  If a person is caring for a few freeroaming/feral cats and has not been able to trap some of them for spay/neuter they could be cited and subject to a civil penalty if over a local limit law, when ownership of these cats is not clearly defined.  

**    Shelters already want to keep data.  Most are doing their very best to provide statistics to the Department of Public Health each year, including information on cats (since 1995) even though this is not required in the regulations.  AB 1634 would hold agencies hostage by withholding their Government reimbursement claims arising from the Hayden Shelter Bill of 1998 unless they send in this data.  Those shelters that are lax in doing this will simply report incorrect statistics rather than not receive their reimbursement - none of us will be able to trust the integrity of the data anymore.   

**  This is a bad bill, quickly pulled together even though the sponsors have had one year to come up with amendments.  It is unfair to present a draconian law with no opportunity for thorough examination of the consequences.  

Send your letters NOW.  

ATTEND the Committee hearing on June 25, 2008 at the State Capitol - be there at least by 9AM.  

Joan Miller
CFA Legislative Coordinator
JMillerArt@aol.com

Committee Contact Information:  

Senate Local Goverment Committee
ATTN:  Peter Detwiler, Consultant
State Capitol Room 5046
Sacramento, CA 95814
FAX - 916-322-0298  

Committee Members:  

Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod (Chair) 
State Capitol, Room 2059
Sacramento, CA   95814
Phone:  (916) 651-4032
Fax (916) 445-0128 
Senator.McLeod@senate.ca.gov  

Senator Dave Cox (Vice Chair)
State Capitol, Room 2068
Sacramento, CA   95814
Phone:  (916) 651-4001
Fax:  (916) 324-2680
Senator.Cox@senate.ca.gov  

Senator Tom Harman
State Capitol, Room 2052
Sacramento, CA   95814
Phone:  (916) 651-4035
Fax:  (916) 445-9263
Senator.Harman@senate.ca.gov   

Senator Christine Kehoe
State Capitol, Room 4038
Sacramento, CA   95814
Phone:  (916) 651-4039
Fax:  (916) 327-2188 
Senator.Kehoe@senate.ca.gov   

Senator Michael Machado 
State Capitol, Room 5066
Sacramento, CA   95814
Phone:  (916) 651-4005
Fax:  (916) 323-2304
Senator.Machado@sen.ca.gov  

To correspond with the CFA Legislative Committee, please send email to legislation@cfa.org