California Senate holds first animal welfare hearings

SACRAMENTO
February 16, 2009 12:14pm

A hearing that had been scheduled by the California Senate Committee on Food and Agriculture for Tuesday on how to implement Proposition 2 has been postponed "due to ongoing budget negotiations."

It has not been rescheduled.

The committee, led by Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez, D-Shafter, had been set to begin to lay the framework to implement improvements in farm animal welfare under Proposition 2, approved by voters last November.

The committee has broadened its focus to include animal welfare in the wake of the “obvious mandate” demonstrated by the November passage of Proposition 2, the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act, says Mr. Florez.

Prop. 2 requires that by Jan. 1, 2015, producers give egg-laying hens, calves raised for veal and breeding pigs enough room to stand up, turn around and fully extend their limbs.

It was to have heard from researchers, animal welfare organizations and industry leaders on reforms that have been made and areas where identified shortcomings need to be addressed.

“The voters of California made clear they believe that even animals raised for food deserve humane treatment, and we intend to see their wishes become reality,” says Mr. Florez.