BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                        AB 2483


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       Date of Hearing:   April 13, 2016


                          ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE


                                   Bill Dodd, Chair


       AB 2483  
       (Committee on Agriculture) - As Introduced February 19, 2016


       SUBJECT:  Livestock Identification Advisory Board.


       SUMMARY:  This bill changes the number of meetings required for the  
       Livestock Identification Advisory Board (LIAB) from once quarterly to  
       at least twice a year.  


       EXISTING LAW:  Creates LIAB, prescribes LIAB membership and functions  
       and duties of LIAB, and requires LIAB to meet at the call of its  
       chairperson at least once every three months.


       FISCAL EFFECT:  Unknown.


       COMMENTS:  The Bureau of Livestock Identification (BLI) is a division  
       within the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).  BLI  
       is responsible for the state's brand registration and inspection  
       program, which protects cattle owners in California against loss of  
       animals by theft, straying or misappropriation.  The state's brand  
       registration and inspection program is financed, in its entirety,  
       through brand registration and inspection fees paid by the cattle  
       owners.









                                                                        AB 2483


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        The BLI's program consists of the: 1) registration of cattle and other  
       animals permanent brands; 2) inspection of cattle for lawful possession  
       prior to movement, sale or slaughter, and recording of the information  
       obtained by such inspections; and, 3) assisting local law enforcement  
       with investigations and prosecutions involving cattle theft.

       The LIAB was created in 1970 to make recommendations to the Secretary  
       of CDFA and to the Chief of BLI related to: 1) improving and changing  
       in the administration and enforcement of the hide and brand laws and  
       regulations which are adopted pursuant to such laws; 2) procedures  
       which are followed by BLI; 3) curbing of livestock thefts; 4) the  
       annual budget for BLI; and, 5) legislation which is designed to improve  
       the functioning of BLI.

       LIAB members, who are appointed by CDFA, adopted a resolution at their  
       January 7, 2016 meeting requesting a change be made to the frequency of  
       meeting.  The LIAB members believe two meetings each calendar year are  
       sufficient to address LIAB's business and the statute will still allow  
       the board chairman to call a special meeting as necessary.

       REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:




       Support




       California Cattlemen's Association




       Opposition


       None on file.







                                                                        AB 2483


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