BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1709
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 1709 (Conway)
As Amended August 20, 2010
Majority vote
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|ASSEMBLY: |72-0 |(May 20, 2010) |SENATE: |32-0 |(August 20, |
| | | | | |2010) |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Original Committee Reference: AGRI.
SUMMARY : Deletes and recasts the existing state biologics
licensure law to cover animal blood and blood components and
products; makes biologics production and biologics products
subject to federal authority and permitting, in lieu of the
state; and, requires the California Department of Food and
Agriculture (CDFA) to assist producers of California biological
products to become registered and licensed with the United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Center for Veterinary
Biologics.
The Senate amendments change and further detail responsibility
of CDFA to ensure California biological products become
registered and licensed with USDA, Center for Veterinary
Biologics.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill was substantially similar
to the version approved by the Senate.
FISCAL EFFECT : According the Senate Committee on
Appropriations, avoidance for CDFA of approximately $450,000 per
year, by eliminating this program.
COMMENTS : CDFA has sponsored AB 1709, which proposes to
eliminate the state's biologics program for the use and
production of animal disease prevention and treatment products
within California. This program was created in 1974 and modeled
after USDA's Center for Veterinary Biologics program. A recent
USDA audit of CDFA's current program found that funding
shortfalls have jeopardized CDFA's ability to perform the needed
specialized training, laboratory testing, and regulatory
enforcement activities, to ensure the consumers that these
products meet the requirements of being pure, safe, potent and
efficacious.
AB 1709
Page 2
CDFA claims that USDA has agreed to provide a transition period
to all companies and assist with the transition of those
products currently registered with CDFA over to USDA, and these
products will remain available during the transition, according
to CDFA. Affected livestock producers have limited faith in
USDA's acceptance of California specific biological products,
since they are used in very limited qualities and areas. To
address these concerns, language was added in the Senate to
require CDFA to work with producers of California biological
products to help them register and become licensed under USDA's
requirement.
Analysis Prepared by : Jim Collin / AGRI. / (916) 319-2084
FN: 0006175