BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1319
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Date of Hearing: May 15, 2013
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
AB 1319 (Eggman) - As Amended: March 18, 2013
Policy Committee: AgricultureVote:7
- 0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill revises and recasts indemnity payments for brucellosis
reactive and non-reactive cattle, eliminating the state's
payment for slaughtered animals. Specifically, this bill:
1)Provides that if an animal is slaughtered pursuant to this
article, and indemnity funds are available, the owner can
receive part or all of the following:
a) Proceeds from the sale of the salvaged animals.
b) Proceeds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
that are authorized to be paid from any appropriation made
to assist in the eradication of brucellosis in cattle in
this state.
2)Requires the value of slaughtered non-reacting animals to be
determined by appraisal by a California Department of Food and
Agriculture (CDFA) representative, or a representative of the
Agricultural Research Service of USDA and by the owner of the
animal. If there is disagreement on the valuation, it shall
be appraised by the CDFA, and that value is final.
3)Authorizes the owner of a non-reactive animal slaughtered
pursuant to this article, if indemnity funds are available, to
the following:
a) Proceeds from the sale of the salvaged animals.
b) Proceeds from USDA authorized to be paid to the owner
from any appropriation made to assist in the eradication of
AB 1319
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brucellosis in California.
FISCAL EFFECT
There are no significant costs associated with this legislation.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . This bill is primarily technical. This bill rewords
the provisions for use of brucellosis indemnity funds and
changes payment provisions, eliminating the state's share of
payment and the maximum amounts to producers for slaughtered
reactive animals, instead basing it upon availability of
appropriated funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) to assist in the eradication of brucellosis.
2)Bovine Brucellosis . Brucellosis is a non-curable contagious
disease of ruminant animals (mainly cattle, bison and swine)
that can cause the infected animals to have decreased milk
production, weight loss, infertility, and lameness, making it
one of the most serious livestock diseases. This disease,
which can spread rapidly and is transmissible to humans, makes
it a serious and costly concern to the state. Due to these
factors, treatment of the disease is by eradication of
infected and exposed animals.
There are no effective means to detect infected animals by
their appearance; blood testing is necessary. The disease is
spread by contact with an infected animal or by an infected
animal contaminating their environment through discharge of
fecal matter or mucus. Brucellosis incubation period is
variable, from two weeks, to seven or eight months, or even
longer. The purpose of the control areas is to regulate the
movement of animals to prevent exposure or contact during the
long incubation period.
Analysis Prepared by : Julie Salley-Gray / APPR. / (916)
319-2081