BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 1437|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 1437
Author: Huffman (D), et al
Amended: 5/26/10 in Senate
Vote: 21
SENATE FOOD & AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE : 4-1, 6/16/09
AYES: Florez, Maldonado, Hancock, Pavley
NOES: Hollingsworth
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 65-12, 5/26/09 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT : Shelled eggs: sale for human consumption:
compliance with
animal care standards
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill prohibits selling shelled eggs for
human consumption in California produced by egg-laying hens
on farms not in compliance with animal care standards.
ANALYSIS : Existing law prevents any person from
tethering or confining, for all or a majority of any day,
animals, specifically pigs during pregnancy, calves raised
for veal, or egg-laying hens, in such a way that prevents
the animal from lying and standing, fully extending limbs,
and turning around completely. This begins on January 1,
2015.
CONTINUED
AB 1437
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2
This bill:
1.Prohibits shelled eggs from being sold for human
consumption in California if the farm or location for
production is not in compliance with California animal
care standard beginning January 1, 2015.
2.Allows for a fine not to exceed $1,000 or imprisonment in
a county jail not to exceed 180 days or by both the fine
and imprisonment.
Comments
In November 2008, voters passed Proposition 2, which
addressed confinement of farm animals. The law requires
that certain farm animals, including egg-laying hens, have
room to move freely.
According to the author's office, requiring all eggs sold
for human consumption in California to conform to the
animal care standards will protect California's consumer's
health and welfare. Reports cited by the author state that
egg-laying hens subjected to stress have a greater chance
of carrying bacteria or viruses, thus having a greater
chance of exposing consumers to food borne bacteria and
viruses. Some supporters stated this bill will level the
playing field for California egg producers to remain
competitive with out-of-state egg producers.
California has a history of establishing animal welfare
standards for products consumed here. The Legislature
passed SB 1520 (Burton), Chapter 904, Statutes of 2004,
which banned the sale of foie gras by prohibiting the sale
in California of a product if it is the result of force
feeding a bird for the purpose of enlarging the bird's
liver beyond normal size.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: Yes
SUPPORT : (Verified 6/16/10)
2nd Chance for Pets
AB 1437
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Alpha Canine Sanctuary
Animal Acres Animal
Animal Place
Animal Protection and Rescue League
Animal Welfare Advocacy
ASPCA
Avian Welfare Coalition
Bay Animal Hospital
Blackberry Farm
Bon App?tit Management Company
California Animal Association
Center for Food Safety
Center for Science in the Public Interest
Community Market Natural Foods
Compassionate Carnivores
Dr. Bauer's Advanced Wellness
East Bay Animal Advocates
Farm Animal Protection Project
Farm Sanctuary
Finance Tree, Inc
G Town G Ranch
Green Star Solution
Here's Looking at You Baby
Humane Society of Louisiana
Humane Society of the United States
Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association
Internal Medicine
Le Fort's Organic Crops
League of Humane Voters
Loving Touch Animal Massage
Marin Humane Society
Marin Vegetarian Education Group
Middleton Farm
Mt. Barnabe Farm
Natural Pet
Noah's Ark Veterinary Hospital
North Star Pet Assistance
Orange County People for Animals
PAW PAC
Paw Project
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
Planning and Conservation League
Positively Pets!
Restaurant Soltan Banoo
AB 1437
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Rocket Dog Rescue
Sausalito Animal Hospital
Sugar Beat Sweets
Tamalpais Pet Hospital
TCM, Inc.
The Grand Slam Diet.com
The New School of Cooking
Tree Axis
Turner's Portable Welding
Urban Cat Project
Vreseis Limited (organic farm)
World Society for the Protection of Animals
OPPOSITION : (Verified 6/16/10)
California Restaurant Association
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : Proponents state that this bill
will ensure standardized basic animal welfare standards for
the production of shelled eggs consumed in California.
While there are currently similar efforts to Proposition 2
in other states across the nation, this bill will ensure
that all eggs consumed in California are produced by hens
raised according to animal welfare standards that meet the
expectations for animal care and food safety of the
California consumer. Proponents point to the United Egg
Producers cage-free standards to provide a blueprint for
compliance with this bill and Proposition 2 welfare
standards. Further, reports cited by proponents of the
bill state that egg-laying hens subjected to stress are
more likely to have higher levels of pathogens in their
intestines and that poor conditions increase the likelihood
that consumers will be exposed to higher levels of
food-borne pathogens. Therefore, proponents state that
this bill also addresses a health and food safety issue
with California eggs which they feel is not in conflict
with the interstate commerce clause.
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION : (No letter on file)
ASSEMBLY FLOOR :
AYES: Adams, Ammiano, Arambula, Beall, Bill Berryhill, Tom
Berryhill, Blakeslee, Block, Blumenfield, Brownley,
AB 1437
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Buchanan, Caballero, Charles Calderon, Carter, Chesbro,
Conway, Cook, Coto, Davis, De La Torre, De Leon,
Emmerson, Eng, Evans, Feuer, Fletcher, Fong, Fuentes,
Fuller, Furutani, Galgiani, Gilmore, Hall, Hayashi,
Hernandez, Hill, Huber, Huffman, Jones, Krekorian, Lieu,
Bonnie Lowenthal, Ma, Mendoza, Monning, Nava, Nestande,
Niello, Nielsen, John A. Perez, V. Manuel Perez,
Portantino, Price, Ruskin, Salas, Saldana, Skinner,
Smyth, Solorio, Swanson, Torlakson, Torres, Torrico,
Tran, Yamada
NOES: Anderson, DeVore, Gaines, Garrick, Hagman, Harkey,
Jeffries, Knight, Logue, Miller, Silva, Villines
NO VOTE RECORDED: Duvall, Audra Strickland, Bass
TSM:nl 6/16/10 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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