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Committee advances SB 312 to require electronic filing of dog health certificates for out‑of‑state shipments
Summary
The Assembly Committee on Agriculture voted to refer SB 312 (by Sen. Umberg, presented by Sen. Rubio) to Appropriations. The bill would require electronic submission to CDFA of federally required health certificates for dogs imported into California so buyers and enforcement agencies can trace origins and health status.
Sen. Rubio presented SB 312 on behalf of Sen. Tom Umberg, saying the bill aims to close a data gap that lets puppies bred out of state and sold online enter California without a centralized record. "California state law has never required shippers of dogs to send health certificate forms to CDFA. And this bill intends to remedy this," the author said.
Supporters described a pattern in which thousands of puppies are bred in large out‑of‑state operations, sometimes in substandard conditions, and sold online or through brokers. Britney Benesci of the ASPCA told the committee that buyers can be misled by listings that present animals as local and healthy; she said SB 312 would require electronic filing of the federal export health certificates to CDFA and to buyers so consumers and enforcement agencies have access to origin and health information.
Jennifer Fearing of the San Diego Humane Society told the committee that local animal-control and public-health investigators often lack a central record to trace shipments in cases of disease or fraud. She described the bill as an enforcement tool that would make it possible to identify volumes and origins of imported dogs and to support investigations.
Witnesses acknowledged privacy concerns for consumer data and said they are willing to work with Appropriations on amendments to protect personally identifiable information while preserving access for public-health and enforcement purposes.
Outcome: The committee voted to move SB 312 to the Appropriations Committee. The clerk recorded eight recorded “aye” votes and zero “no” votes.
Ending: Proponents said they will work with committee staff and Appropriations on language to address consumer-privacy concerns while retaining a searchable record for enforcement and disease control.
