BILL ANALYSIS ------------------------------------------------------------ |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 670| |Office of Senate Floor Analyses | | |1020 N Street, Suite 524 | | |(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | | |327-4478 | | ------------------------------------------------------------ THIRD READING Bill No: AB 670 Author: Spitzer (R), et al Amended: 6/27/07 in Senate Vote: 21 SENATE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE : 5-0, 6/19/07 AYES: Romero, Cogdill, Cedillo, Margett, Ridley-Thomas SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8 ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 76-0, 05/07/07 - See last page for vote SUBJECT : Animals: bites: owner information SOURCE : Author DIGEST : This bill requires a person who owns or has custody or control of an animal to, as soon as is practicable, but no later than 48 hours thereafter, provide identifying information to another person when the person knows, or has reason to know, the animal bit the other person, as specified. Failure to provide the required information would be an infraction, punishable by a fine of not more than $100. ANALYSIS : Existing law makes it a misdemeanor or a felony for a person owning or having custody or control of a mischievous animal to negligently allow the animal to cause serious bodily injury to another person, as specified. CONTINUED AB 670 Page 2 This bill provides that whenever a person owning or having custody or control of an animal, knows, or has reason to know, that the animal bit another person, he or she shall, as soon as is practicable, but no later than 48 hours thereafter, provide the other person with his or her name, address, telephone number, and the name and license tag number of the animal who bit the other person. This bill provides that if the person with custody or control of the animal at the time the bite occurs is a minor, he or she shall instead provide identification or contact information of an adult owner or responsible party. This bill provides that if the animal is required by law to be vaccinated against rabies, the person owning or having custody or control of the animal shall, within 48 hours of the bite, provide the other person with information regarding the status of the animal's vaccinations. This bill provides that it is necessary for the skin of the person be broken or punctured by the animal for the contact to be classified as a bite. This bill provides that a violation of this section is an infraction punishable by a fine of not more than $100. FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: Yes SUPPORT : (Verified 7/9/07) Orange County Medical Association City of Yucaipa ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author's office, this bill requires a person who owns or has custody of an animal, and knows the animal bit another person, to as soon as practicable, but no longer than 48 hours, provide the other person with the name, address, telephone number, and the name, license tag number of the animal who bit the other person. If the animal is required by law to be vaccinated against rabies, the person owning or having AB 670 Page 3 custody or control of the animal shall, within 48 hours of the bite, provide the other person with information regarding the status of the animal's vaccinations. Failure to do so would result in a $100 infraction. The idea for this bill came from a constituent who, while walking on the beach, was bitten by a dog on a leash. The owner of the dog left the scene without providing any assistance or information. In the same way that those who are involved in auto accidents are required to exchange information, people whose animals bite others have responsibility to assist the victim and to provide information regarding their identity, and the identity and health status of the animal. ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 76-0, 5/7/07 AYES: Adams, Aghazarian, Anderson, Arambula, Bass, Beall, Benoit, Berg, Berryhill, Blakeslee, Brownley, Caballero, Charles Calderon, Carter, Cook, Coto, Davis, De La Torre, De Leon, DeSaulnier, DeVore, Duvall, Dymally, Emmerson, Eng, Feuer, Fuller, Gaines, Galgiani, Garcia, Garrick, Hancock, Hayashi, Hernandez, Horton, Houston, Huff, Huffman, Jeffries, Jones, Karnette, Keene, Krekorian, La Malfa, Laird, Leno, Levine, Lieber, Ma, Maze, Mendoza, Mullin, Nakanishi, Nava, Niello, Parra, Plescia, Portantino, Price, Richardson, Sharon Runner, Ruskin, Salas, Saldana, Silva, Smyth, Solorio, Spitzer, Strickland, Swanson, Torrico, Tran, Villines, Walters, Wolk, Nunez NO VOTE RECORDED: Evans, Lieu, Soto, Vacancy RJG:nl 7/11/07 Senate Floor Analyses SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE **** END ****