BILL ANALYSIS �
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 2730
Author: Assembly Agriculture Committee
Amended: 3/18/14 in Assembly
Vote: 21
SENATE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE : 5-0, 6/17/14
AYES: Galgiani, Cannella, Berryhill, Lieu, Wolk
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 78-0, 5/15/14 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT : Animal disease planning
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill requires the Department of Food and
Agriculture (DFA) by July 1, 2015, to develop and maintain a
list of animal diseases that are likely to enter California and,
to the extent funding is available, develop a written plan for
the detection, exclusion, eradication, control, or management of
higher priority animal diseases on this list.
ANALYSIS :
Existing law:
1. Requires DFA to maintain and publish a list of reportable
conditions that pose or could pose a significant threat to
public health, animal health, the environment, or the food
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supply. DFA's Animal Health and Food Safety Services
Division protects public and animal health through the
prevention, detection, and eradication of livestock and
poultry diseases. The California Animal Health and Food
Safety Laboratory System assists in these efforts.
2. Requires DFA to develop and maintain a list of invasive pests
that have a reasonable likelihood of entering California and
to develop and maintain a written plan for detection,
exclusion, eradication, control, or management of the higher
priority invasive pests on this list.
This bill:
1. States findings and declarations regarding the introduction
of invasive species into California and states that 85% of
all human diseases are zoonotic.
2. Requires DFA, by July 1, 2015, to develop and maintain a list
of animal diseases that have a reasonable likelihood of
entering California for which a response by the state might
be appropriate.
3. Requires DFA, to the extent that funding is available, to
develop and maintain a written plan for the detection,
exclusion, eradication, control, or management of the higher
priority animal diseases on the list created above.
Determination of higher priority animal diseases and the
development of appropriate response plans shall be made in
consultation with USDA, the University of California, other
state agencies and departments, and others in the scientific
and research community.
4. Authorizes DFA to contract for scientific research with the
University of California or other institutions of higher
learning.
Background
In 2006, DFA published a report on emergency responses to
foreign animal diseases (FAD), specifically foot and mouth
disease, avian influenza, and exotic Newcastle disease.
According to this report, "These diseases are caused by highly
contagious viruses that exponentially spread, potentially
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devastating vast populations of animals and, in some cases, may
pose a threat to human health." Furthermore, "Early and
continuous surveillance for FAD's in California is the single
most effective method of preventing a FAD from becoming
established."
In addition to affecting animal health and damaging the
agricultural economy, animal diseases may pose a serious threat
to the health and well-being of all Californians. The Institute
for Infectious Animal Diseases, a Department of Homeland
Security Science and Technology Center of Excellence, reports
that 75% of recently emerging infectious diseases that affect
humans began as animal diseases; 60% of animal pathogens are
zoonotic, meaning transmissible between animals and humans; and
16% of all United States jobs depend upon the health of the
nation's $1.25 trillion agricultural economy.
Related Legislation
AB 2763 (Laird, Chapter 573, Statutes of 2008) requires DFA to
develop a list of potential invasive pests, and to develop and
maintain a written plan for detection, exclusion, eradication,
control, or management of the higher priority invasive pests on
this list. The bill takes a similar approach and requires that
a list and response plan be maintained for animal diseases.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 7/1/14)
Association of California Egg Farmers
California Farm Bureau Federation
California Grain and Feed Association
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author's office, DFA's
budget has been cut over the past several years, putting the
state's livestock industry and pets at risk of contracting
diseases and viruses. In order to use limited resources most
effectively, establishing a list of potential animal diseases
and health risks that could be introduced in California could
help DFA focus expertise on the areas of greatest risk.
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 78-0, 5/15/14
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AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Allen, Ammiano, Bigelow, Bloom,
Bocanegra, Bonilla, Bonta, Bradford, Brown, Buchanan, Ian
Calderon, Campos, Chau, Ch�vez, Chesbro, Conway, Cooley,
Dababneh, Dahle, Daly, Dickinson, Donnelly, Eggman, Fong, Fox,
Frazier, Beth Gaines, Garcia, Gatto, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gordon,
Gorell, Gray, Grove, Hagman, Hall, Harkey, Roger Hern�ndez,
Holden, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Levine, Linder, Logue, Lowenthal,
Maienschein, Medina, Melendez, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian,
Nestande, Olsen, Pan,
Patterson, Perea, John A. P�rez, V. Manuel P�rez, Quirk,
Quirk-Silva, Rendon, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez, Salas, Skinner,
Stone, Ting, Wagner, Waldron, Weber, Wieckowski, Wilk,
Williams, Yamada, Atkins
NO VOTE RECORDED: Mansoor, Vacancy
JL:d 8/12/14 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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