STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 1219

with Assembly Floor Amendments

(Proposed by Assemblywoman CHAPARRO)

ADOPTED: MAY 20, 2021

      The floor amendments would remove language from the bill that would have directed the Department of Health to recommend, develop, and offer sensitivity training for veterinarians and veterinary workers.  The amendments would also replace language throughout bill referring to the “veterinarian performing” rabies testing with “veterinarian preparing and submitting the specimen for rabies testing.”  The amendments would require the owner of a dead domestic companion animal required to be tested for rabies, to be informed of the protocol of decapitation, instead of being informed of the possibility of decapitation of the animal and, if decapitated, the possible loss of the animal’s head after completion of the rabies testing;

      The amendments remove language that required the owner’s consent to the protocols and procedures in the bill and instead, would require the owner to sign an acknowledgement that notification of the protocols and procedures of rabies testing had been provided.  The amendments would (1) remove language that would have allowed the owner of a domestic companion animal who objects to the possible decapitation of the animal, to be offered the option to only have the brain removed for testing, (2) remove other references to this option throughout the bill, and (3) remove language about payment of additional costs for the option.

      The amendments also revise the definition of “domestic companion animal” to exclude “domestic livestock.”  Finally, the amendments make technical and clarifying corrections to the bill.