BILL NUMBER: SB 662 INTRODUCED BILL TEXTINTRODUCED BY Senator Migden
FEBRUARY 22, 2005
An act to amend Section 19501 of the Food and Agricultural Code, relating to animals.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 662, as introduced, Migden. Animal slaughter. Existing law provides that cattle, calves, horses, mules, sheep, swine, goats, fallow deer, and poultry, not including spent hens and small game birds, shall be slaughtered by prescribed methods. This bill would provide that the slaughter of spent hens and small game birds is governed by these provisions. Because this bill would change 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 19501 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read: 19501. (a) Cattle, calves, horses, mules, sheep, swine, goats,
orfallow deer, or poultry shall be slaughtered by the methods prescribed in this section. No state agency shall contract for, purchase, procure, or sell all or any portion of any animal, unless that animal is slaughtered in conformity with this chapter. This chapter applies to any person engaged in the business of slaughtering animals enumerated in this section, or any person slaughtering any of those animals when all, or any part of, that animal is subsequently sold or used for commercial purposes.(b) All cattle, calves, horses, mules, sheep, swine, goats,orfallow deer , or poultry subject to this part, or poultry subject to Part 1 (commencing with Section 24501) of, Part 2 (commencing with Section 25401) of, and Part 3 (commencing with Section 26401) of, Division 12 shall be slaughtered by either of the following prescribed methods: (1) The animal shall be rendered insensible to pain by a captive bolt, gunshot, electrical or chemical means, or any other means that is rapid and effective before being cut, shackled, hoisted, thrown, or cast, with the exception of poultry which may be shackled. (2) The animal shall be handled, prepared for slaughter, and slaughtered in accordance with ritual requirements of the Jewish or any other religious faith that prescribes a method of slaughter whereby the animal suffers loss of consciousness by anemia of the brain caused by the simultaneous and instantaneous severance of the carotid arteries with a sharp instrument. This sectiondoes not applyappliesto the slaughter of spent hens and small game birds, as defined by the department by regulation. SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because 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.