UPDATE--CA BILL AB 2689 -- Public response has caused Assembly Member Smyth's office to withdraw the language in AB 2689 lowering the age of puppy vaccination from 4 months to 3 months in "rabies areas." However, as the law currently stands, the State Public Health Officer can require annual rabies vaccinations in "rabies areas." Please call
(916) 319-2038, (916) 319-3958, or the committee members them an e-mail (contact information below) and ask them to strike the language in the current law (121690) authorizing the State Health Officer to impose annual rabies vaccinations in "rabies areas."
Below is a copy of my e-mail to AM Smyth's assistant, Kevin O'Neill. To access the law in question, go to this link
Find California Code , click on "Health and Safety Code" and enter 121690 for the keyword .
PERMISSION GRANTED TO POST AND CROSS-POST this notice, please spread the word and take action to change this law.
Cameron Smyth - Chair Rep-38 (916) 319-2038
Assemblymember.Smyth@assembly.ca.gov
Anna M. Caballero - Vice Chair Dem-28 (916) 319-2028
Assemblymember.Caballero@assembly.ca.gov
Juan Arambula Ind-31 (916) 319-2031
Assemblymember.Arambula@assembly.ca.gov
Steven Bradford Dem-51 (916) 319-2051
Assemblymember.Bradford@assembly.ca.gov
Mike Davis Dem-48 (916) 319-2048
Assemblymember.Davis@assembly.ca.gov
Steve Knight Rep-36 (916) 319-2036
Assemblymember.Knight@assembly.ca.gov
Dan Logue Rep-3 (916) 319-2003
Assemblymember.Logue@assembly.ca.gov
Jose Solorio Dem-69
(916) 319-2069
Assemblymember.Solorio@assembly.ca.gov
----- Original Message -----
From: Kris Christine
To: Kevin.O'Neill@asm.ca.gov
Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 1:00 PM
Subject: Re: AB 2689 (Smyth)
Greetings Mr. O'Neill,
Thank you for your e-mail. There is conflicting language within the Health and Safety Code as it stands, and this is a good opportunity to resolve this. What The Rabies Challenge Fund objects to in the proposed amendment is the lowering of the age of puppy vaccinations to 3 months and the authority given (or reaffirmed) to impose annual rabies vaccinations in "rabies areas".
Within the language of the current law as it stands is the following below allowing for a 3 year dog license in "rabies areas" as long as the license period shall not extend beyond the remaining period of validity for the
current rabies vaccination -- this does not state period of validity for an annual rabies vaccination.
As outlined in the letter we submitted to you, there is no scientific or epidemiological data supporting the authority given to the State Public Health Officer to impose annual rabies vaccinations for dogs in "rabies areas," and it goes against the recommendations of the Center for Disease Control's recommendations in their Rabies Compendium. While you are revising AB 2689 to keep the 4 month puppy vaccination provision, we respectfully request that you also revise subsection (a) so that there is no authority given to impose annual vaccinations.
Regards,
Kris L. Christine
Founder, Co-Trustee
The Rabies Challenge Fund
ledgespring@lincoln.midcoast.com "121690. In rabies areas, all of the following shall apply:
(g) In addition to the authority provided in subdivision (a), the ordinance of the responsible city, city and county, or county may
provide for
the issuance of a license for a period not to exceed three years for dogs that have attained the age of 12 months or older and have been vaccinated against rabies. The person to whom the license is issued pursuant to this subdivision may choose a license period as established by the governing body of up to one, two, or three years.
However, when issuing a license pursuant to this subdivision, the license period shall not extend beyond the remaining period of validity for the current rabies vaccination. A dog owner who complies with this subdivision shall be deemed to have complied with the requirements of subdivision (a)."