Legislative Information
Here are new California laws effective January 1, 2020. Click on the title of the bill to be linked to the bill text for more information.
SB-637 – Prevention of Animal Homelessness and Cruelty Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund
This bill permits humane societies and SPCAs providing animal control services for a local public agency to receive funds from the program and also requires that the department report on its website the process for awarding money and itemization of how funds were awarded.
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This bill requires CalAnimals to develop and maintain standards for a program to certify animal control officers.
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AB – 588 – Dog bite disclosures
This bill requires shelters and rescues to disclose in writing any known bite from a dog age 4 months+ that breaks skin and the circumstances relating to the bite.
SB-787 Animal welfare – language cleanup bill
This bill replaces references to “pound” with “animal shelter.”
This bill cleans up language in existing code with more current, appropriate terms.
“Pound” is now changed to “animal shelter,” “poundkeeper” to “shelter director,” “pound officer” to “animal control officer,” “destroyed” to “euthanized,” and any reference to him/her has been removed.
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SB-245 Free pet adoptions for veterans
This law prohibits a public animal shelter from charging an adoption fee for a dog or cat if the person presents a valid driver’s license or ID card with the word “VETERAN” printed on it.
Requires written bill of sale and sworn statement that the horse purchased at a public or private auction is not being purchased for slaughter.
This bill makes it unlawful to hunt, trap, or otherwise take a bobcat, except under specified circumstances, including under a depredation permit.
Prohibits a person from using any animal other than a domestic dog, domestic cat, or domesticated horse in a circus in this state.
AB-611 – Sexual abuse of animals
Section 286.5 of the Penal Code now states that every person that has sexual contact with an animal is guilty of a misdemeanor.
AB 44 – Fur products prohibition
Makes it unlawful to sell, offer for sale, display for sale, trade, or distribute a fur product in this state.
AB-415- Victim compensation: relocation: pets
Includes in victim compensation expenses incurred for temporary housing of any pets belonging to the victim.
AB-169 Guide, signal, and service dogs: injury or death
This bill expands the scope or restitution to include medical expenses, loss of wages, and replacement costs to any person convicted of injuring or killing a service animal.
SB-397 – Public transit operators: passengers with pets: evacuation orders
This bill requires that OES and CDFA develop best practices for allowing pets on public transit vehicles serving areas subject to an evacuation order.
AB 1565 – Stray Cats: adoption: kittens.
This bill authorizes a kitten under 8 weeks of age that is reasonably believed to unowned to be available immediately for adoption beginning on the day on which the kitten is seized, taken up, or impounded through the entire holding period. Please note: “(B) Nothing in this paragraph supersedes or otherwise limits the requirements in Section 31751.3 or Sections 31760 to 31762, inclusive, to ensure that a kitten sold, given away, or transferred to a new owner is or will be spayed or neutered.”
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Went into effect January 1, 2019 and gave the Veterinary Medical Board one year to develop guidelines for veterinarians to follow when discussing cannabis with established clients. As of January 2, 2020, here are the guidelines w are to follow: https://vmb.ca.gov/forms_pubs/cannabis_discussion.pdf
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AB 5: Worker Status: Employees and Independent Contractors
Veterinarians have been added to the list of medical professionals who are exempt from the new requirements of independent contractors.
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SB 142: Lactation Accommodation
Requires an employer to provide a private room or location for nursing employees that must comply to certain requirements.
CA minimum wage increases by one dollar to $12/hr for workers of companies with less than 25 employees, and $13/hr for workers at larger companies.
Businesses with at least 5 employees must provide sexual harassment training within 6 months of hiring, and every 2 years afterward.
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The following bills were vetoed by the governor:
Would have required all dogs and cats to be chipped with owner info at time of adoption or reclaim; or require owner to do so within 30 days. Governor vetoed because of possible costs to person adopting or reclaiming a pet.
SB – 202 – Animal blood donors
Would have allowed the creation of community sourced blood banks. Governor vetoed saying bill doesn’t go far enough to eliminate the closed colony blood banks.