BILL NUMBER: SB 237	CHAPTERED  09/19/01

	CHAPTER  300
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 19, 2001
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 18, 2001
	PASSED THE SENATE  SEPTEMBER 4, 2001
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 30, 2001
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JULY 16, 2001
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 24, 2001
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MARCH 19, 2001

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Vincent
   (Coauthors:  Assembly Members Oropeza and Strom-Martin)

                        FEBRUARY 14, 2001

   An act to amend Section 1656.3 of, and to add Sections 1666.5 and
21376 to, the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 237, Vincent.  Streets and highways:  abandoned animals.
   (1) Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to
include within the California Driver's Handbook language regarding
rail transit safety.
   This bill would additionally require the department to include in
the handbook language regarding the abandonment or dumping of any
animal on a highway, and would provide that, in order to minimize the
costs, this new language shall be initially included at the earliest
opportunity when the handbook is otherwise revised or reprinted.
   (2) Existing law requires the department to administer a written
test of those persons seeking driver's licenses or certificates of
renewal.
   This bill would require the department to include, on a rotating
basis, at least one question, in at least 20% of the tests of an
applicant's knowledge and understanding of the provisions, to verify
that the applicant has read and understands that the abandonment or
dumping of any animal is a criminal offense that can create a severe
traffic safety hazard.
   (3) Existing law requires the Department of Transportation and
local authorities in their respective jurisdictions, to place and
maintain, or cause to be placed and maintained, appropriate signs,
signals, and other traffic control devices. Under various provisions
of existing law, the abandonment of animals is prohibited.
   This bill would require the Department of Transportation to place
and maintain on major state highways entering the state, as
specified, a sign that states that the abandonment or dumping of any
animal is a crime punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 or by
confinement in a county jail of up to 6 months, or both.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 1656.3 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:

   1656.3.  (a) The department shall include within the California
Driver's Handbook, as specified in subdivision (b) of Section 1656,
language regarding each of the following:
   (1) Rail transit safety.
   (2) Abandonment or dumping of any animal on a highway.
   (b) In order to minimize costs, the language referred to in
paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) shall be initially included at the
earliest opportunity when the handbook is otherwise revised or
reprinted.
  SEC. 2.  Section 1666.5 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:
   1666.5.  The department shall include, on a rotating basis, at
least one question in at least 20 percent of the tests of an
applicant's knowledge and understanding of the provisions of this
code, as administered pursuant to Section 12803 or 12814, to verify
that the applicant has read and understands that the abandonment or
dumping of any animal is a criminal offense that can create a severe
traffic safety hazard.
  SEC. 3.  Section 21376 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:
   21376.  The Department of Transportation shall place and maintain
on each major state highway entering the state within 500 feet after
the state line, a sign that states that the abandonment or dumping of
any animal is a crime punishable by a fine of up to one thousand
dollars ($1,000) or confinement in a county jail of up to six months,
or both.