Existing law establishes the Pet Lover’s Fund in the Specialized License Plate Fund and requires the Department of Food and Agriculture to grant moneys in the Pet Lover’s Fund to eligible veterinary facilities, as defined, that offer low-cost or no-cost animal sterilization services pursuant to a specified process. Existing law authorizes an individual to contribute amounts in excess of their tax liability for the support of specified funds. Existing law also sets forth administrative provisions applicable to voluntary contributions. Prior existing law established the Prevention of Animal Homelessness and Cruelty Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund for purposes of receiving voluntary contributions made by individuals from amounts in excess of their tax liability. This bill requires that all moneys in that prior fund continue to be transferred and disbursed in accordance with prior applicable law, as those read immediately prior to their repeal. This bill additionally allows an individual to designate on their tax return that a specified amount in excess of their tax liability be transferred to the Prevention of Animal Homelessness and Cruelty Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund, which is created by this bill. The bill prohibits a voluntary contribution designation for the Prevention of Animal Homelessness and Cruelty Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund from being added on the tax return until another voluntary contribution designation is removed or a space is available. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. Last Amended on 8/6/2024

The bill would authorize a puppy or kitten relinquished to a public or private shelter by the purported owner, or brought in by any other person with authority to relinquish it, to also be made immediately available for release to a nonprofit organization, animal rescue organization, or adoption organization if requested by the organization.

This bill specifies that, upon the next update to a city or county’s emergency plan, whenever a city or county designates any number of emergency warming centers, that it also, to the extent practicable, designate at least one warming center that can accommodate persons with pets.

Existing law, subject to exceptions, provides that any person who has been convicted of certain misdemeanors may not, within 10 years of the conviction, own, purchase, receive, possess or have under their custody or control, any firearm and makes a violation of that prohibition punishable as a misdemeanor or a felony. Existing law, with certain exceptions, makes it a crime to maliciously and intentionally maim, mutilate, torture, wound, or kill a living animal. This bill would provide that any person convicted of a misdemeanor violation of the above-described crimes, on or after January 1, 2025, may not, within 10 years of the conviction, access a firearm as described above, and would make a violation of that prohibition a misdemeanor. Because a violation of these provisions would be a crime, and because this bill would expand the application of the crime to a larger class of potential offenders, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. Last Amended on 8/19/2024

Existing law generally regulates classes of insurance, including pet insurance. Under existing law, a pet insurance policy marketed, issued, amended, renewed, or delivered to a California resident on or after July 1, 2015, is subject to state regulation of pet insurance. Existing law requires an insurer transacting pet insurance to make specified disclosures to consumers. Existing law defines various terms relating to the regulation of pet insurance. This bill would require an insurer to disclose if it reduces coverage or increases premiums based on the age of the covered pet or a change in the geographic location of the insured, as well as if it requires a medical examination to effectuate coverage or imposes a waiting period. The bill would authorize the issuance of a pet insurance policy that excludes preexisting conditions or imposes a waiting period, if specified criteria are met. The bill would require coverage to be issued no later than 12:01 a.m. on the 2nd day after receipt of a complete application and valid payment information, except as specified. The bill would set forth requirements for a pet wellness program, as defined, would prohibit the marketing of a wellness program as pet insurance, and would specify when a wellness program is considered a pet insurance policy. The bill would also update existing definitions and define additional terms, including “orthopedic,” “producer,” and “renewal.” Last Amended on 8/22/2024

Existing law establishes the University of California, under the administration of the Regents of the University of California, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in the state. Existing law vests the University of California with exclusive jurisdiction in public higher education over instruction in the profession of law and over graduate instruction in the professions of medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine. This bill would authorize a California veterinary medical school to develop a high-quality, high-volume spay and neuter certification program to be offered as elective coursework to enrolled students, as provided. The bill would require the certification program to also be offered to California-licensed veterinarians and California-registered veterinary technicians, as provided. This bill contains other related provisions. Last Amended on 8/20/2024

This bill would require the order established by the veterinarian that authorizes a registered veterinary technician to perform animal health care services, as described, to include specified minimum information. The bill would require the order to include, among other things, information pertaining to time periods by which an impounded animal is required to be assessed at intake and monitored while in the custody of an agency, protocols to address the treatment of common medical conditions encountered in impounded animals, and communication requirements between the registered veterinary technician and the supervising veterinarian.

This measure would recognize August 8, 2024, as California Community Cats Day and would urge all Californians to observe and promote this day with appropriate activities and programs.