American Kennel Club News Article
AB 1634 - The More Than $100 Million Mistake
Date of Article: April 25, 2007
After passing the Assembly Business and Professions committee yesterday, California Assembly Bill 1634 has been referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. This is a new step in the legislative process requiring that all breeders and concerned dog owners write this new committee to express your opposition to AB 1634, as your previous letters to the Assembly Business and Professions committee are no longer valid. It is imperative that when writing your letters of opposition, please state that you “oppose AB 1634, as amended by the Business and Professions Committee on April 24th.”
No substantive changes have been made to AB 1634. It continues to require the mandatory spaying or neutering of all dogs or cats over four months of age, unless the owner acquires an intact animal permit. The American Kennel Club strongly supports reasonable and enforceable laws that protect the welfare and health of purebred dogs and do not restrict the rights of breeders and owners who take their responsibilities seriously. In its current form, AB 1634 proposes to seriously restrict the property rights of responsible breeders and owners while imposing untold and unjust punitive costs upon their activities.
If adopted, the provisions of AB 1634 would have a profound negative economic impact on both the state and local economies in California. For example:
* In 2006, AKC exhibitors at all-breed dog shows, agility trials, obedience trials, and field trials held in California contributed approximately $92 million to local economies. This figure will be drastically reduced if AB 1634 becomes law.
* The 2006 AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, held at the Long Beach Convention Center, brought a significant economic impact of $21.7 million to the local economy. Under the provisions of AB 1634, an out-of-state dog entering California temporarily to compete would not be exempted from its provisions. This would make it virtually impossible for the vast majority of our exhibitors to attend this event. This would mean a major loss of revenue for California as well as the probable loss of this prestigious event to another state.
* Because localities would set intact permit fees, breeders would face an undefined but increased economic burden. As seen in other jurisdictions that have imposed permit regimes, many breeders will move out of state or may be forced to take their operations underground. As a result, the amount of licensing fees collected will be reduced significantly.
* AB 1634 provides an unfunded mandate for local governments to implement and enforce. Many local governments do not have the resources to impose the provisions of the bill.
WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW:
* Contact your representative in the California State Assembly. To find your Assemblymember, click here.
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html * Contact the members of the California Assembly Appropriations Committee who will consider this bill. Tell them that you strongly oppose AB 1634 as amended by the Business and Professions Committee on April 24th.
It is imperative that clubs send official opposition letters to the committee consultants to ensure your club is listed in the bill analysis!
Assembly Appropriations Committee
ATTN: Chuck Nicol, Committee Consultant
State Capitol, Room 2114
Sacramento, California 95814
FAX: (916) 319-2181
Assembly Member Mark Leno (D), Chair
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA
94249-0013
Phone: (916) 319-2013
Fax: (916) 319-2113
Assemblymember.leno@assembly.ca.gov
Assembly Member Mimi Walters (R), Vice Chair
State Capitol
Room 6031
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 319-2073
Fax: (916) 319-2173
Assemblymember.walters@assembly.ca.gov
Assembly Member Anna M. Caballero (D)
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0028
Phone: (916) 319-2028
Fax: (916) 319-2128
Assemblymember.Caballero@assembly.ca.gov
Assembly Member Mike Davis (D)
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0048
Phone: (916) 319-2048
Fax: (916) 319-2148
Assemblymember.Davis@assembly.ca.gov
Assembly Member Mark DeSaulnier (D)
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0011
Phone: (916) 319-2011
Fax: (916) 319-2111
Assemblymember.DeSaulnie
r@assembly.ca.gov
Assembly Member Bill Emmerson (R)
State Capitol Office
Room 4158
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 319-2063
Fax: (916) 319-2163
Assemblymember.emmerson@assembly.ca.gov
Assembly Member Jared Huffman (D)
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0006
Phone: (916) 319-2006
Fax: (916) 319-2106
Assemblymember.Huffman@assembly.ca.gov
Assembly Member Betty Karnette (D)
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0054
Phone: (916) 319-2054
Fax: (916) 319-2154
Assemblymember.Karnette@assembly.ca.gov
Assembly Member Paul Krekorian (D)
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0043
Phone: (916) 319-2043
Fax: (916) 319-2143
Assemblymember.Krekorian@assembly.ca.gov
Assembly Member Doug La Malfa (R)
State Capitol, Room 4164
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0002
Phone: (916) 319-2002
Fax: (916) 319-2102
Assemblymember.lamalfa@assembly.ca.gov
Assembly Member Ted W. Lieu (D)
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0053
Phone: (916) 319 - 2053
Fax: (916) 319 - 2153
Assemblymember.Lieu@assembly.ca.gov
Assembly Member Fiona Ma (D)
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0012
Phone: (916) 319-2012
Fax: (916) 319-2112
Assemblymember.Ma@assembly.ca.gov
Assembly Member Alan Nakanishi (R)
State Capitol, Room 5175
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0010
Phone: (916) 319-2010
Fax: (916) 319-2110
Assemblymember.nakanishi@assembly.ca.gov
Assembly Member Pedro Nava (D)
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0035
Phone: (916) 319-2035
Fax: (916) 319-2135
Assemblymember.nava@assembly.ca.gov
Assembly Member Sharon Runner (R)
State Capitol, Room 5158
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0036
Phone: (916) 319-2036
Fax: (916) 319-2136
Assemblywoman.Runner@assembly.ca.gov
Assembly Member Jose Solorio (D)
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0069
Phone: (916) 319-2069
Fax: (916) 319-2169
Assemblymember.solorio@assembly.ca.gov
For more information, contact AKC’s Canine Legislation Department at (919) 816-3720, or e-mail doglaw@akc.org.
The Canine Legislation Department will continue to monitor developments in California, and will issue Legislative Alerts as they warrant.