AB 634
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
CSA1 Bill Id:AB 634 (Author:Huber)
As Amended Ver:August 30, 2011
Majority vote
ASSEMBLY: / 60-0 / (April 14, 2011) / SENATE: / 38-1 / (September 8, 2011)Original Committee Reference: AGRI.
SUMMARY: This bill allows the use of carbon monoxide (CO) for the control ofburrowing rodent pests (BRP).
The Senate amendmentsdelete the previous version of this bill, and instead:
1)Declare legislative intent that the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), with assistance of the California Department of Fish and Game, may assist landowners in the control of burrowing rodent pest (BRP) via the use of Carbon Monoxide (CO).
2)Allow the use of CO for the control of BRP with the following conditions:
a)Require CO delivery devices to have a permanent and clearly visible warning label as specified; and,
b)Require the use of CO to be subject to the California Endangered Species Act and additional laws and regulations relating to pesticide use and pesticide operators.
3)Repeal the use of CO to control BRP on January 1, 2018, unless this legislation is extended.
4)Add to the use of CO to control BRP to Vertebrate Pest Control Research Advisory Committee research and education duties, as specified.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Defines a vertebrate pest (VP) for purposes of requiring the Secretary of CDFA to establish and administer a research program to control VP.
2)Prohibits the killing of any animal by means of CO.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY, this bill was substantially similar in intent and purpose to the version approved by the Senate.
FISCAL EFFECT: This bill has been keyed fiscal by Legislative Counsel.
COMMENTS: This bill was re-written in the Senate, but is consistent with the intent and purpose of the version passed by the Assembly.
According to the sponsor, AB 634 would allow farmers and ranchers to use CO for the control of BRP such as gophers and ground squirrels. An estimated $500 million in crop losses are attributed to rodents and other VP in California. Supporters state that CO is a safe, targeted and humane method of rodent control. Anticoagulant bait, zinc phosphide bait, gas cartridge fumigation and trapping are current methods used for BRP control in California.
AB 1659 (Kopp) of 1998, banned the use of CO in the killing of animals. The focus of the bill was to prevent the use of a CO chamber in animal shelters for animal euthanasia. The bill did not address or discuss the use of CO as a pest control. AB 634 corrects the inadvertent consequences of AB 1659.
Analysis Prepared by: Victor Francovich / AGRI. / (916) 319-2084
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