BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 634
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CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 634 (Huber)
As Amended August 30, 2011
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |60-0 |(April 14, |SENATE: |38-1 |(September 8, |
| | |2011) | | |2011) |
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Original Committee Reference: AGRI.
SUMMARY : This bill allows the use of carbon monoxide (CO) for
the control of burrowing rodent pests (BRP).
The Senate amendments delete the previous version of this bill,
and instead:
1)Declare legislative intent that the California Department of
Food and Agriculture (CDFA), with assistance of the California
Department of Fish and Game, may assist landowners in the
control of burrowing rodent pest (BRP) via the use of Carbon
Monoxide (CO).
2)Allow the use of CO for the control of BRP with the following
conditions:
a) Require CO delivery devices to have a permanent and
clearly visible warning label as specified; and,
b) Require the use of CO to be subject to the California
Endangered Species Act and additional laws and regulations
relating to pesticide use and pesticide operators.
3)Repeal the use of CO to control BRP on January 1, 2018, unless
this legislation is extended.
4)Add to the use of CO to control BRP to Vertebrate Pest Control
Research Advisory Committee research and education duties, as
specified.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Defines a vertebrate pest (VP) for purposes of requiring the
Secretary of CDFA to establish and administer a research
AB 634
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program to control VP.
2)Prohibits the killing of any animal by means of CO.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill was substantially similar
in intent and purpose to the version approved by the Senate.
FISCAL EFFECT : This bill has been keyed fiscal by Legislative
Counsel.
COMMENTS : This bill was re-written in the Senate, but is
consistent with the intent and purpose of the version passed by
the Assembly.
According to the sponsor, AB 634 would allow farmers and
ranchers to use CO for the control of BRP such as gophers and
ground squirrels. An estimated $500 million in crop losses are
attributed to rodents and other VP in California. Supporters
state that CO is a safe, targeted and humane method of rodent
control. Anticoagulant bait, zinc phosphide bait, gas cartridge
fumigation and trapping are current methods used for BRP control
in California.
AB 1659 (Kopp) of 1998, banned the use of CO in the killing of
animals. The focus of the bill was to prevent the use of a CO
chamber in animal shelters for animal euthanasia. The bill did
not address or discuss the use of CO as a pest control. AB 634
corrects the inadvertent consequences of AB 1659.
Analysis Prepared by : Victor Francovich / AGRI. / (916)
319-2084
FN: 0002457