Bill Text: CA AB258 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Chaptered


Bill Title: Rabies: vaccinations.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 6-2)

Status: (Passed) 2011-10-07 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 542, Statutes of 2011. [AB258 Detail]

Download: California-2011-AB258-Chaptered.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 258	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  542
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  OCTOBER 7, 2011
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  OCTOBER 7, 2011
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 31, 2011
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 6, 2011
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 20, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Hagman
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Atkins, Beth Gaines, Garrick,
Halderman, Mansoor, Perea, and Smyth)

                        FEBRUARY 7, 2011

   An act to amend Section 121690 of the Health and Safety Code,
relating to rabies.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 258, Hagman. Rabies: vaccinations.
   Existing law imposes various requirements upon dog owners in
rabies areas designated by the State Public Health Officer. Any
person who violates these requirements is guilty of an infraction,
punishable by a fine not exceeding $1,000. Violation of these
requirements also results in impounding of the dog by the local
jurisdiction. Among the requirements imposed under existing law is
that a dog 4 months of age or older must be vaccinated against
rabies.
   This bill would exempt from the vaccination requirement a dog
whose life would be endangered due to disease or other considerations
that a veterinarian can verify and document if the dog received the
vaccine, as determined by a licensed veterinarian on an annual basis.
The bill would also require a dog that is exempt from the
vaccination requirement to be confined to the premises of the owner,
keeper, or harborer and would require, if the dog is off the premises
of the owner, keeper, or harborer, the dog to be on a leash not to
exceed 6 feet in length and to be under the direct physical control
of an adult.
   Existing law authorizes a city, city and county, or county to
provide, by ordinance, for the issuance of a license for a dog that
has attained the age of 4 months or older and has been vaccinated
against rabies. Under existing law, the license period shall not
extend beyond the remaining period of validity for the current rabies
vaccination.
   This bill would prohibit, in the event that a dog is exempted from
the vaccination requirement, the license period from extending
beyond one year.
   By imposing a higher level of service upon local agencies and by
changing the definition of a crime, this bill would impose a
state-mandated local program.
   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no
reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
   With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that,
if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains
costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall
be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 121690 of the Health and Safety Code is amended
to read:
   121690.  In rabies areas, all of the following shall apply:
   (a) Every dog owner, after his or her dog attains the age of four
months, shall no less than once every two years secure a license for
the dog as provided by ordinance of the responsible city, city and
county, or county. License fees shall be fixed by the responsible
city, city and county, or county, at an amount not to exceed
limitations otherwise prescribed by state law or city, city and
county, or county charter.
   (b) (1) Every dog owner, after his or her dog attains the age of
four months, shall, at intervals of time not more often than once a
year, as may be prescribed by the department, procure its vaccination
by a licensed veterinarian with a canine antirabies vaccine approved
by, and in a manner prescribed by, the department, unless a licensed
veterinarian determines, on an annual basis, that a rabies
vaccination would endanger the dog's life due to disease or other
considerations that the veterinarian can verify and document. The
responsible city, county, or city and county may specify the means by
which the dog owner is required to provide proof of his or her dog's
rabies vaccination, including, but not limited to, by electronic
transmission or facsimile.
   (2) A request for an exemption from the requirements of this
subdivision shall be submitted on an approved form developed by the
department and shall include a signed statement by the veterinarian
explaining the inadvisability of the vaccination and a signed
statement by the dog owner affirming that the owner understands the
consequences and accepts all liability associated with owning a dog
that has not received the canine antirabies vaccine. The request
shall be submitted to the local health officer, who may issue an
exemption from the canine antirabies vaccine.
   (3) The local health officer shall report exemptions issued
pursuant to this subdivision to the department.
   (4) A dog that is exempt from the vaccination requirements of this
section shall be considered unvaccinated.
   (5) A dog that is exempt from the vaccination requirements of this
section shall, at the discretion of the local public health officer
or the officer's designee, be confined to the premises of the owner,
keeper, or harborer and, when off the premises, shall be on a leash
the length of which shall not exceed six feet and shall be under the
direct physical control of an adult. A dog that is exempt from the
provisions of this section shall not have contact with a dog or cat
that is not currently vaccinated against rabies.
   (c) All dogs under four months of age shall be confined to the
premises of, or kept under physical restraint by, the owner, keeper,
or harborer. Nothing in this chapter and Section 120435 shall be
construed to prevent the sale or transportation of a puppy four
months old or younger.
   (d) Any dog in violation of this chapter and any additional
provisions that may be prescribed by any local governing body shall
be impounded, as provided by local ordinance.
   (e) The governing body of each city, city and county, or county
shall maintain or provide for the maintenance of a pound system and a
rabies control program for the purpose of carrying out and enforcing
this section.
   (f) Each city, county, or city and county shall provide dog
vaccination clinics, or arrange for dog vaccination at clinics
operated by veterinary groups or associations, held at strategic
locations throughout each city, city and county, or county. The
vaccination and licensing procedures may be combined as a single
operation in the clinics. No charge in excess of the actual cost
shall be made for any one vaccination at a clinic. No owner of a dog
shall be required to have his or her dog vaccinated at a public
clinic if the owner elects to have the dog vaccinated by a licensed
veterinarian of the owner's choice.
   All public clinics shall be required to operate under antiseptic
immunization conditions comparable to those used in the vaccination
of human beings.
   (g) In addition to the authority provided in subdivision (a), the
ordinance of the responsible city, city and county, or county may
provide for the issuance of a license for a period not to exceed
three years for dogs that have attained the age of 12 months or older
and have been vaccinated against rabies or one year for dogs
exempted from the vaccination requirement pursuant to subdivision
(b). The person to whom the license is issued pursuant to this
subdivision may choose a license period as established by the
governing body of up to one, two, or three years. However, when
issuing a license pursuant to this subdivision, the license period
shall not extend beyond the remaining period of validity for the
current rabies vaccination and, if a dog is exempted from the
vaccination requirement pursuant to subdivision (b), the license
period shall not extend beyond one year. A dog owner who complies
with this subdivision shall be deemed to have complied with the
requirements of subdivision (a).
   (h) All information obtained from a dog owner by compliance with
this chapter is confidential to the dog owner and proprietary to the
veterinarian. This information shall not be used, distributed, or
released for any purpose, except to ensure compliance with existing
federal, state, county, or city laws or regulations.
  SEC. 2.  No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution for
certain costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district because, in that regard, this act creates a new crime or
infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the
Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the
meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution.
   However, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that this
act contains other costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to
local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made
pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of
Title 2 of the Government Code.                       
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