PASSES FULL SENATE FLOOR WITH A UNANIMOUS VOTE!
Today, AB 1282 the California Pet Blood Bank Modernization Act, passed the full Senate with a unanimous vote. The bill, which was introduced earlier this year by authors Assemblymember Richard Bloom (D- Santa Monica) and Senator Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita) and led by Social Compassion in Legislation, aims to bring transparency and oversight to animal blood banks in California by allowing community blood banks and phasing out captive-closed colonies.
California is the only state in the nation to prohibit community-sourced blood donations, which act the same as voluntary human blood collection by allowing the donors to come in with their loving human guardians. Once signed by Governor Newsom, AB 1282 will change current law by allowing pet owners to volunteer their pets to give blood for transfusions to animals in need. It will require veterinarians to supervise community blood banks for animals, mandate testing for disease in all donors, and creating transparency by making records related to commercial blood banks available to the public.
“As they say, the third time is a charm. This is a long overdue and needed reform for commercial animal blood banks,” said Senate Republican Leader Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita) as he presented the bill on the Senate floor. “I am glad to see this change – that will save pets’ lives – finally become law.”
“After three years of working on opening up community blood banks for animals and phasing out the warehousing of caged canine blood-slaves in the state of California, we are elated the full Senate voted unanimously to pass this bill today,” said Judie Mancuso, founder and president of Social Compassion in Legislation, a political animal advocacy organization which has been spearheading the legislative effort. “We thank Assemblymember Bloom and Senator Wilk for their tireless leadership on this issue and look forward to Governor Newsom signing this into law, opening up new business in our state while treating animals humanely.”
“AB 1282 will open up a most welcome new frontier for veterinary businesses and create a more robust and reliable supply of life-saving blood products for dogs who need that blood, both across California and beyond,” said Dr. Monica Bando, a veterinarian with the PETA Foundation. “This bill is a win for everyone involved, from my veterinary colleagues and our patients to the dog guardians depending on us to provide the best care possible to their beloved dogs, and to the donors themselves.”
“This has been a three-year animal welfare policy reform effort that is now one step away from being implemented. I am elated that we are finally on the verge of replacing a long-standing inhumane practice and with a model program that will ensure the safety proper treatment of animal blood donors in California,” said Assemblymember Bloom. “I am optimistic that Governor Newsom will sign AB 1282 into law soon.”
The bill now makes its way to Governor Newsom’s desk for signature.
