Bill Text: CA SB585 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Cats: declawing procedures: prohibition.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2022-02-01 - Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [SB585 Detail]
Download: California-2021-SB585-Amended.html
|
Amended
IN
Senate
March 10, 2021 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 585
| Introduced by Senator |
February 18, 2021 |
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 585, as amended, Jones Community care facilities. Cats: declawing procedures: prohibition.
Existing law prohibits a person from performing, or otherwise procuring or arranging for the performance of, surgical claw removal, declawing, onychectomy, or tendonectomy on any cat that is a member of an exotic or native wild cat species, and prohibits a person from otherwise altering such a cat’s toes, claws, or paws to prevent the normal function of the cat’s toes, claws, or paws, except solely for a therapeutic purpose.
This bill would prohibit a person from removing or disabling a cat’s claws by performing a declawing procedure, as defined, except when a phalangectomy is performed solely for a therapeutic purpose, as specified. The bill would require a licensed veterinarian who performs a phalangectomy for a therapeutic purpose to file a written statement,
which would include the purpose for performing the phalangectomy, with the Veterinary Medical Board, as specified. The bill would impose on a person that removes or disables a cat’s claws by performing a declawing procedure a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 for the first violation, $1,500 for the second violation, and $2,500 for the third and subsequent violations, as specified. The bill would impose on a licensed veterinarian that fails to file the written statement a civil penalty of not more than $200, and would provide that such conduct or performing a declawing procedure constitutes unprofessional conduct. The bill would authorize the Attorney General, a city attorney, and a county counsel to bring an action to impose these civil penalties. The bill would require a person, upon determining a licensed veterinarian potentially performed a declawing procedure, to notify the board of the potential violation, and would specify that a violation of this requirement is not a crime and is not subject to
any civil or criminal penalty.
The California Community Care Facilities Act provides for the licensure and regulation of community care facilities by the State Department of Social Services. The act specifically excludes a residential care facility for the elderly, as defined, from its provisions.
This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to this exclusion.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee:Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 31755 is added to the Food and Agricultural Code, to read:31755.
(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:(1) “Cat” means an animal of the taxonomic family felidae, except an animal that is a member of an exotic or native wild cat species as defined in Section 597.6 of the Penal Code.
(2) “Declawing procedure” means an onychectomy, partial or complete phalangectomy, partial digital amputation, tendonectomy, or other procedure to alter a cat’s toes, claws, or paws to prevent the normal functioning of the cat’s toes, claws, or paws. “Declawing procedure” does not include the trimming of nonviable claw husk or placing nonpermanent nail caps.
(3) “Licensed
veterinarian” means a person licensed as a veterinarian by the State of California.
(4) “Onychectomy” means a procedure in which a portion of the paw of a cat is amputated to remove or disable a claw, including, without limitation, procedures commonly referred to as declawing.
(5) “Partial digital amputation” means a procedure for the excision of some or all of one or more of the phalanges of the paw of a cat.
(6) “Phalangectomy” means a procedure for the excision of one or more of the phalanges of the paw of a cat.
(7) “Tendonectomy” means a procedure in which the tendons to the limbs, paws, or toes of a cat are cut or modified so that the cat’s claws cannot function normally.
(8) “Therapeutic purpose” means for the purpose of addressing an existing or recurring infection, disease, injury, or abnormal condition in the claw that jeopardizes the cat’s health and only when addressing that infection, disease, injury, or abnormal condition is determined by a licensed veterinarian to be a medical necessity. “Therapeutic purpose” does not include cosmetic or aesthetic purposes or the purpose of making a cat more convenient to keep or handle.
(b) (1) Except as specified in paragraph (2), a person shall not remove or disable a cat’s claws by performing a declawing procedure.
(2) This subdivision does not apply to a phalangectomy performed solely for a therapeutic purpose.
(c) (1) If a licensed veterinarian determines that it is necessary to
perform a phalangectomy for a therapeutic purpose, the licensed veterinarian, on or before 10 business days after performing the phalangectomy, shall file a written statement, including the corresponding independent laboratory pathology report confirming the pathology, with the Veterinary Medical Board.
(2) The written statement shall include the purpose for performing the phalangectomy, identifying information for the cat, including its age, gender, markings, and microchip number, if applicable, a photo of the cat’s face, and the name, current address, and current phone number of the owner or keeper of the cat.
(3) The licensed veterinarian shall provide a copy of the written statement to the owner or keeper of the cat.
(d) (1) A violation of subdivision (b) is punishable by the following:
(A) For the first violation, a civil penalty of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000).
(B) For the second violation, a civil penalty of at least one thousand dollars ($1,000), but not more than one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500).
(C) For the third or subsequent violation, a civil penalty of at least one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500), but not more than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500).
(2) A violation of subdivision (c) is punishable by a civil penalty of not more than two hundred dollars ($200).
(3) A violation of this section by a licensed veterinarian shall constitute unprofessional conduct.
(e) Upon determining a licensed veterinarian potentially violated subdivision (b), a person, including an entity enforcing this section, shall notify the Veterinary Medical Board of the potential violation. Notwithstanding Section 9, a violation of this requirement is not a crime and is not subject to any civil or criminal penalty.
(f) The Attorney General, a city attorney, or a county counsel may bring an action to impose a civil penalty pursuant to this section.
(g) A civil penalty imposed pursuant to this section shall be deposited into the General Fund if the action is brought by the Attorney General. If the action is brought by a city attorney, the civil penalty shall be paid to the treasurer of the city in which the judgment is entered. If the action is brought by a county counsel, the civil penalty shall be paid to the treasurer of the county in which the
judgment is entered.
(h) This section does not preempt any local ordinance prohibiting a declawing procedure, or similar conduct, or imposing a more severe penalty for performing a declawing procedure or similar conduct.
Notwithstanding Section 1502, a residential care facility for the elderly, as defined in Section 1569.2, shall not be considered a community care facility, and shall be subject only to the California
Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly Act (Chapter 3.2 (commencing with Section 1569)).
