David Quintana (far left) testifies for AB 1648 on behalf of Social Compassion in Legislation. Assemblymember Brian Maienschein (far right) presents his bill, AB 1648.

AB 1648, the Animal Evacuation Act, Passes the Senate Governmental Organization Committee!

We are thrilled to announce that today AB 1648, the Animal Evacuation Act, passed the Senate Governmental Organization Committee by a vote of 10-1, with Chair Dodd and Senators Allen, Archuleta, Becker, Bradford, Hueso, Kamlager, Portantino, Rubio, and Wilk voting yes, Senator Neilson voting no, and Senators Melendez and Jones choosing to abstain. Senators Glazer and Borgeas were not in attendance.

The bill, authored by Assemblymember Brian Maienschein (D-San Diego) and sponsored by Social Compassion in Legislation, specifies a city or county that requires a kennel license or permit, to require, as a condition for obtaining the kennel license or permit, that the kennel owner create and submit to the city or county an animal natural disaster evacuation plan for any kennel covered by the license or permit.

California continues to experience catastrophic wildfires of historic proportion devastating both Northern and Southern California. These disasters, among other things, tragically highlighted the serious need for preparing and executing evacuation plans for animals. In the chaos of wildfire, animals are and will be left to suffer and perish in the absence of pre-planning by their guardians.

“AB 1648 will help ensure the families are ready to evacuate with their beloved pets if disaster strikes,” said Judie Mancuso, founder and president of Social Compassion in Legislation. “This will not only save the lives of pets, and possibly humans, but also ensure first responders’ time is not diverted to people return to disaster areas to save animals that have been left behind.”

The bill now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

We cannot thank you all enough for the action you take for the animals! Please consider making a donation to help us continue our work.

With gratitude,

Nickolaus Sackett, Director of Legislative Affairs
Social Compassion in Legislation