BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 1722 Page 1 Date of Hearing: April 9, 2014 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Mike Gatto, Chair AB 1722 ( Bigelow) - As Amended: March 12, 2014 Policy Committee: AgricultureVote:6-0 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: Yes Reimbursable: No SUMMARY This bill prohibits any person convicted of grand theft for stealing a horse, bovine animal or other specified farm animals, from registering and owning a brand for a period of five years following the date of conviction. The bill requires those convicted to submit to additional inspection prior to any movement, transportation, or change of ownership of farm animals for the five-year period and pay for the cost of such inspections. The bill creates a fine of $1,000 per animal required to be inspected for any violations, and increases the general fee the Secretary of Agriculture may charge for inspections from $10 to $12 per site. FISCAL EFFECT No significant impact to the Department of Food and Agriculture's costs. The state's brand registration and inspection program is financed, in its entirety, through brand registration and inspection fees paid by cattle owners. Revenue and costs derived from the penalties and brand inspections are unlikely to be significant given historically low convictions for felony grand theft of livestock and modest increase in fees for general inspections. COMMENTS 1) Cattle theft . According to the author, increases in the value of beef have contributed to growing instances of cattle theft AB 1722 Page 2 over the past few years. Over the past five years, an average of nearly 1,300 head of cattle has been reported stolen or missing in California, an increase of over 20% since the period before the recession. Five individuals were convicted of felony grand theft of livestock over the past four years. 2) Purpose . According to the author, stronger deterrents must be in place to combat cattle thieves and hold them accountable. This bill would cause those people convicted of cattle theft to lose their current brand and prohibit convicted individuals from obtaining another brand for five years. Analysis Prepared by : Joel Tashjian / APPR. / (916) 319-2081