BILL ANALYSIS
------------------------------------------------------------
|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 1306|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|1020 N Street, Suite 524 | |
|(916) 445-6614 Fax: (916) | |
|327-4478 | |
------------------------------------------------------------
THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 1306
Author: Figueroa (D)
Amended: 3/13/02
Vote: 21
SENATE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE : 6-0, 3/19/02
AYES: McPherson, Burton, Margett, Polanco, Sher,
Vasconcellos
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8
SUBJECT : Cruelty to animals: bovine animals:
prohibition on tripping, dragging, or felling
SOURCE : Action for Animals
DIGEST : This bill makes it a misdemeanor for any person
to intentionally trip, drag or fell any bovine animal by
the tail for the purpose of entertainment or sport.
ANALYSIS : Existing law prohibits cruelty to animals;
makes it a wobbler for any person to maliciously and
intentionally maim, mutilate, torture or wound a living
animal or maliciously and intentionally kill an animal; and
makes it a misdemeanor to intentionally trip or fell an
equine by the legs or by any means whatsoever for the
purposes of entertainment or sport.
This bill makes it a misdemeanor to intentionally trip,
drag or fell any bovine animal by the tail for the purposes
of entertainment or sport, including practice in
CONTINUED
SB 1306
Page
2
contemplation of entertainment or sport. This bill defines
entertainment or sport as including a rodeo. The bill also
defines "bovine" animal as including, but not limited to,
any steer, calf, bull, ox heifer or cow.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: Yes
SUPPORT : (Verified 4/9/02)
Action for Animals (source)
Association of Federal, State, County and Municipal
Employees
The Humane Society of the United States
Fund for Animals
Animal Protection Institute
Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights
Humane Education Network
Actors and Others for Animals
Doris Day Animal League
California Federation for Animal Legislation
San Francisco Network Ministries
Eco/Watch Sonoma
State Humane Association of California
Contra Costa Humane Society
Ohlone Humane Society
The Humane Farming Association
United Animal Nations
Canyon Animal Hospital, Laguna Beach, CA
American Tortoise Rescue
35 individuals
OPPOSITION : (Verified 4/10/02)
Professional Charros Association
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author:
"Steer tailing," (also called "las colas"), is one of nine
standard charreada (Mexican-style rodeos) events common
throughout California. Steer tailing involves a single
steer running at full speed down a long, narrow chute,
pursued by a charro (cowboy) on horseback. The charro
grabs the running steer by the tail, wraps the tail around
SB 1306
Page
3
his boot and stirrup, then rides his horse off at an angle,
dragging or slamming the steer to the ground. Sometimes
both the steer's and the horse's legs are broken. The
tails of the steers are sometimes broken also, even torn
from the animal's body. Steer tailing is not a ranching
practice anywhere in the U.S., nor is it an event
sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association
(PRCA).
[This bill ] will prohibit intentionally tripping, dragging
or felling any bovine animal by the tail for the purposes
of entertainment, sport, or practice, including for the
purposes of a rodeo. Both Alameda and Contra Costa
counties banned steer tailing in the early 1990's, and the
Napa County Board of Supervisors recently passed a
resolution condemning steer tailing. Horse-tripping, a
similar charreada event, was banned by previous state
legislation.
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION : The Professional Charros
Association states that they have "a long history of
providing rodeo entertainment to the residents of
California. Specifically Hansen Dam Equestrian Center (a
member of the Association) has operated over 150 citation
free, licensed events comprising of more than 6,000 head of
cattle within the city of Los Angeles since 1997.
"The Professional Charros Association strongly opposes
animal cruelty and believes animals to be adequately
protected under California Penal Code ( 596-597) which is
enforced and licensed at the local level."
RJG:kb 4/9/02 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
**** END ****