BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  SB 667
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   August 14, 2013

                          ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
                           Susan Talamantes Eggman, Chair
                     SB 667 (Roth) - As Amended:  August 6, 2013

           SENATE VOTE  :  Vote not relevant.
           
          SUBJECT  :  Retail sale of shelled eggs.

           SUMMARY  :  This bill adds a "knowing or should have known" clause  
          to the liability standard for the sale of shelled eggs not in  
          compliance with California animal welfare standards.  

           EXISTING LAW  prohibits a shelled egg from being sold or  
          contracted for sale for human consumption in California if it is  
          the product of an egg-laying hen that was confined on a farm or  
          place that is not in compliance with animal care standards,  
          starting January 1, 2015.  Violation of this law is a  
          misdemeanor, with fines up to $1000 or up to six month in a  
          county jail.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :  Unknown.  This bill is keyed non-fiscal by  
          Legislative Counsel. 

           COMMENTS  :  In November 2008, voters passed Proposition 2, which  
          addressed confinement of farm animals.  The law requires that  
          certain farm animals, including egg-laying hens, have room to  
          move freely.  AB 1473 (Huffman), Chapter 51, Statutes of 2010,  
          required out-of-state egg producers to comply with California  
          animal care standards.  These laws take full effect on January  
          1, 2015.

          According to the author, the current law will leave grocers, who  
          believe they have complied with the law, open to litigation.   
          The "knowing standard" will give a level of certainty to  
          grocers, if they can show through their contract with egg  
          producers, that they in good faith believe the products they are  
          buying conform to California Animal welfare standards. 

           REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  :

           Support 
           
          California Grocers Association








                                                                  SB 667
                                                                  Page  2

           
            Opposition 
           
          None on file. 

           Analysis Prepared by :    Victor Francovich / AGRI. / (916)  
          319-2084