BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE
Senator Cathleen Galgiani, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: AB 2483 Hearing Date: 6/21/16
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|Author: |Committee on Agriculture |
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|Version: |2/19/16 |
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|Urgency: |No |Fiscal: |Yes |
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|Consultant:|Anne Megaro |
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Subject: Livestock Identification Advisory Board
SUMMARY :
This bill would decrease the minimum number of required meetings
of the Livestock Identification Advisory Board from once every
three months to twice annually.
BACKGROUND AND EXISTING
LAW :
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Bureau
of Livestock Identification is responsible for the
administration and enforcement of cattle protection from theft
by issuing brand registration certificates and conducting
inspections. Generally, inspections are required when cattle
are sold, transported, have a transfer of ownership, and before
entering a feedlot or slaughterhouse. This program is supported
entirely through registration and inspection fees. (Food and
Agricultural Code §20001 et seq.).
The Livestock Identification Advisory Board was created within
CDFA to assist and make recommendations to the secretary and
chief of the Bureau of Livestock Identification in regards to
administration and enforcement of brand laws and regulations,
the annual budget and procedures followed by the Bureau of
Livestock Identification, curbing livestock theft, and
legislation designed to improve bureau function. Advisory board
members are appointed by the secretary and consist of cattle
producers, dairymen, persons engaged in livestock marketing,
AB 2483 (Committee on Agriculture) Page 2 of ?
operators of feedlots, and a member of the public.
Existing law:
1) Authorizes CDFA, through the Bureau of Livestock
Identification, to administer and enforce laws and
regulations that would protect cattle from theft and
misappropriation in California.
2) Authorizes CDFA to regulate and record brands that
establish or indicate cattle ownership, as specified.
3) Establishes the Livestock Identification Advisory Board
to make recommendations to the secretary of CDFA in regards
to administration and enforcement of brand laws and
regulations and the annual budget for the Bureau of
Livestock Identification.
4) Authorizes CDFA to increase cattle inspection fees up to
20% of the statutory fee upon recommendation of the
Livestock Identification Advisory Board (Food and
Agricultural Code § 20760 and 21291).
5) Requires the Livestock Identification Advisory Board to
meet at least once every three months.
PROPOSED
LAW :
This bill:
1) Decreases the minimum number of required meetings of the
Livestock Identification Advisory Board from once every
three months to twice annually.
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT:
According to the author, "Currently the LIAB [Livestock
Identification Advisory Board] is required to meet at every
three months. At the public Board meeting held January 7, 2016,
the LIAB voted unanimously to seek a change in the law that
would in turn require it to meet twice a year and allow the
Chairman to call additional public meetings as necessary. The
motion approved by the Board to seek this change is
AB 2483 (Committee on Agriculture) Page 3 of ?
appropriately recorded in the meeting minutes."
COMMENTS :
Need for this bill. The Livestock Identification Advisory Board
would like to reduce the number of times they are required to
meet within a given timeframe. This bill would change statute
accordingly but maintain the ability of the board to meet upon
call of the chair as needed.
RELATED
LEGISLATION :
AB 732 (Cooper), Chapter 406, Statutes of 2015. Exempts cattle
from brand inspection when sold or ownership is transferred when
all of the following apply: the entity with a controlling
interest does not change, the cattle remain within California or
the point-of-origin inspection area, and the cattle are
associated with a registered brand or dairy exemption number.
This bill also increases specified related fees for brand
registration and cattle inspection by approximately 20%.
AB 1722 (Bigelow), Chapter 129, Statutes of 2014. Prohibits
anyone from registering or owning a cattle brand for five years
if convicted of grand theft for stealing specified livestock;
requires such person to submit any cattle in their possession
for brand inspection and to pay all costs incurred; imposes a
civil penalty in the amount of $1,000 per animal found in
violation; and increases the service fee for cattle brand
inspections.
AB 924 (Bigelow), Chapter 618, Statutes of 2013. Provides that
livestock grand theft is punishable by a fine not greater than
$5,000 and/or imprisonment up to one year and allocates fines to
the Bureau of Livestock Identification to be used for case
investigation.
AB 472 (Agriculture), Chapter 267, Statutes of 2007. Increases
fees regarding cattle brand registrations and hide inspections.
PRIOR
AB 2483 (Committee on Agriculture) Page 4 of ?
ACTIONS :
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|Assembly Floor: |79 - 0 |
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|Assembly Appropriations Committee: |19 - 0 |
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|Assembly Agriculture Committee: |10 - 0 |
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SUPPORT :
California Cattlemen's Association (Sponsor)
OPPOSITION :
None received
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