BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó




                   Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
                           Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair

                                          AB 258 (Hagman)
          
          Hearing Date: 7/11/2011         Amended: 6/20/2011
          Consultant: Katie Johnson       Policy Vote: Health 9-0
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          BILL SUMMARY: AB 258 would exempt a dog from the rabies 
          vaccination requirement if a licensed veterinarian determines, 
          on an annual basis, that a rabies vaccination would endanger the 
          dog's life, as specified.
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                            Fiscal Impact (in thousands)

           Major Provisions         2011-12      2012-13       2013-14     Fund
           CDPH staff for                  $40          $80  $0   General
          regulations 
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          ____

          STAFF COMMENTS: This bill meets the criteria for referral to the 
          Suspense File.
          
          Currently, a dog must be licensed by a local enforcement agency 
          biennially and may not exceed a period of three years in between 
          licenses. Dogs must receive a rabies vaccination not more often 
          than once annually and at least once every three years. It 
          appears that some local jurisdictions are granting exemptions as 
          part of their local rabies control programs, but there exists no 
          statewide policy on exemptions from the rabies vaccination.

          This bill would require the California Department of Public 
          Health (CDPH) to develop a form that veterinarians would use to 
          grant a rabies vaccination exemption if they determine, on an 
          annual basis, that a rabies vaccination would endanger a dog's 
          life due to disease or other considerations. The owner of the 
          exempted dog would be required to sign a statement that would 
          affirm that the owner understands the consequences and accepts 
          all liability associated with owning a dog that has not received 
          the rabies vaccination. If a local health officer grants an 
          exemption, this bill would also require the local health officer 
          to report exemptions to CDPH and would permit the local health 
          officer to set restrictions on the exposure of the unvaccinated 








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          dog to the public. This bill would also prohibit the license 
          period from extending beyond one year in the event that a dog 
          receives a rabies vaccination exemption. In 2009, there were 1.9 
          million dogs licensed in California.

          Costs to CDPH to update its regulations related to canine rabies 
          vaccinations would be $40,000 General Fund in FY 2011-2012 and 
          $80,000 General Fund in FY 2012-2013. Costs to CDPH to develop 
          the exemption form as well as ongoing costs to accept the 
          reported exemptions would be minor and absorbable.