BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2505
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Date of Hearing: April 13, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
AB
2505 (Quirk) - As Introduced February 19, 2016
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|Policy |Public Safety |Vote:|7 - 0 |
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: YesReimbursable:
No
SUMMARY:
This bill prohibits the use of carbon dioxide to euthanize an
animal.
FISCAL EFFECT:
This bill creates a new misdemeanor. Local costs for
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incarceration are nonreimbursable, but are offset to a degree by
fee revenue.
COMMENTS:
1)Background. Current law, prohibits the killing of any animal
by using: a) carbon monoxide gas, or b) an intracardiac
injection of a euthanasia agent on a conscious animal, unless
the animal is heavily sedated or anesthetized in a humane
manner, or comatose, or unless, in light of all the relevant
circumstances, the procedure is justifiable. Furthermore,
with respect to the killing of any dog or cat, no person,
peace officer, officer of a humane society, or officer of a
pound or animal regulation department of a public agency is
also prohibited from using: a) high-altitude decompression
chamber, or b) nitrogen gas.
2)Purpose. According to the author, "The use of carbon dioxide
(CO2) to euthanize dogs and cats is cost prohibitive,
inhumane, dangerous, and unnecessary. However, due to a
loophole in existing law, it is still legal to continue this
practice. AB 2505 will close the loophole in current law and
prohibit the use of CO2 when euthanizing dogs and cats in
California.
3)Support: According to The Humane Society of the United
States, "AB 2505 is necessary to close that loophole and
ensure no one in California uses carbon dioxide to kill dogs
and cats. "Recent evidence suggests that carbon dioxide causes
even more pain and distress than carbon monoxide; humans
describe the effects of carbon dioxide exposure as
excruciating. In fact, carbon dioxide exposure is so painful
and distressing that starving laboratory animals will actually
forgo food when offered in a chamber containing the gas."
4)Prior Legislation:
AB 1426 (Liu), Chapter 652, Statutes of 2006, prohibited the
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killing any animal by means of an intracardiac injection of a
euthanasia agent on a conscious animal, unless the animal is
heavily sedated or anesthetized in a humane manner, or
comatose, or unless, in light of all the relevant
circumstances, the procedure is justifiable.
Analysis Prepared by:Pedro Reyes / APPR. / (916)
319-2081