AB 815

Wiggins

Horses: agricultural animals.

A-05/12/2003

05/29/2003-Referred to Com. on AGR. & WAT. RES.

Existing law regulates livestock operations involving horses, as specified. This bill would classify horses as agricultural animals only for purposes of the eligibility of horse owners for federal grants, as specified.

Click here for Bill text, analysis, votes, etc.  Leginfo Link

No action

AB 923

Firebaugh

State taxes: health care.

A-09/11/2003

09/12/2003-Withdrawn from committee. Ordered placed on third reading file.

The Sales and Use Tax Law imposes a tax on the gross receipts from the sale in this state of, or the storage, use, or other consumption in this state of, tangible personal property. That law provides various exemptions from that tax, including exemptions for farm equipment and machinery, timber harvesting equipment, racehorse breeding stock, diesel fuel used in farming, and liquefied petroleum gas for use in producing and harvesting agricultural products. This bill would repeal those exemptions. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

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No action

AB 1838

Horton, Jerome

Horse racing: workers' compensation.

A-03/15/2004

03/18/2004-From committee: Do pass, and re-refer to Com. on INS. Re-referred.

Existing law sets the amount deducted from the parimutuel pools of thoroughbred races in California. For conventional wagering, that amount is 15% and for exotic wagering, it is 16.75%. Existing law provides for mandatory workers' compensation insurance, and horse owners and horse race operators cannot be granted or keep their licenses unless they have adequate security for workers' compensation, as specified. This bill would make findings and declarations concerning thoroughbred horse racing in California, and the impact of rising costs, including workers' compensation insurance costs, on the health of the California thoroughbred horse racing industry. This bill would , until January 1, 2010, mandate a separate deduction of 0.5% from the exotic parimutuel pools of California thoroughbred races at the racing inclosure, at satellite facilities, at betting systems that accept wagers from California residents, and at betting systems that accept wagers on California races from residents of other states, as specified. The additional 0.5% from the pools would be expended by an organization formed pursuant to the bill's provisions to mitigate workers' compensation costs, as specified, with any unexpended funds at the end of a calendar year to be carried forward to the next year or distributed to organizations that fund offsite stabling and related purposes, as specified. The organization formed to distribute these funds would have to account for its finances to the California Horse Racing Board, as specified. The bill would require the organization to obtain an independent audit, to commission an evaluation, and to report on the evaluation to the California Horse Racing Board, as specified. This bill would also provide for the distribution of funds received under these provisions, as specified, upon their becoming inoperative in 2010. This bill contains other related provisions.

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Passed Assembly GO Committee on 3/18. Will now go to Assembly Insurance Committee. CTBA has sent support letter.

AB 2745

Strickland

Animal diseases: quarantines: Contagious Equine Metritis.

I-02/20/2004

03/11/2004-Referred to Com. on AGRI.

Contagious Equine Metritis. This bill would allow the Department of Agriculture, upon adopting regulations, to grant, deny, and rescind licenses for private facilities to provide precautionary quarantines intended to prevent the spread of Contagious Equine Metritis and other diseases of imported animals. The bill would require the department to impose fees that cover, but do not exceed, the complete costs of regulating, overseeing, and administering this provision. This bill contains other existing laws.

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This bill would permit a privately operated CEM quarantine facility in Californai. CTBA has been working with Dr. Ferarro and the Center for Equine Health and CDFA, because of concerns associated with a private quarantine facility. The CEH has agreed to open a facility in Southeren California to meet any need that may exist there and it is hoped that the author will drop this bill.

ACR 166

Nation

Day of the Horse.

I-01/26/2004

03/18/2004-From committee: Be adopted. To Consent Calendar. (March 18).

This measure would designate the 2nd Saturday of every December as the Day of the Horse.

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SB 1852

Vincent

Horses: hire and boarding regulations.

I-02/20/2004

03/16/2004-Set for hearing March 22.

Existing law authorizes a peace officer, officer of a humane society, or officer of an animal control or animal regulation department of a public agency to issue a citation to a person or entity keeping horses or other equine animals for hire if the person or entity fails to meet standards of humane treatment regarding the keeping of horses or other equine animals. This bill would expand the group of people to whom an officer may issue a citation to include a person or entity keeping horses or other equine animals for boarding who fails to meet those standards. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws.

Click here for Bill text, analysis, votes, etc.  Leginfo Link

CTBA and numerous other organizations have expressed oppositon to this bill base on the fact that it simply isn’t necessary. CTBA, PCQHA Farm Bureau and a number of individuals have written letters of opposition. The bill is scheduled to be heard in Senate Business and Professions Committee on Monday 3/22. Letters should be sent to the committee ASAP.