Sacramento CA: 1st of 3 Parts - Senator Jerry Hill Bills

UPDATE: California State Senator Jerry Hill – Bills Awaiting the Governor and Bills Signed

Part 1 of 3 Parts

Part 2: http://patch.com/california/sanbruno/sacramento-ca-part-2-3-parts-update-california-state-senator-jerry-hill-bills

Part 3: http://patch.com/california/sanbruno/sacramento-ca-part-3-3-senator-jerry-hill-bills

Senator Jerry Hill Sends 20 Bills to the Governor as the 2015 Legislative Session Adjourns

SACRAMENTO – With the last day of the 2015 Legislative session coming to an end, 16 bills by Senator Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo/Santa Clara counties) await action by the governor, including bills that would establish the nation’s first livestock antibiotic regulation, increase transparency of license plate readers and cell phone trackers, and increase public safety related to earthquake preparedness, pipeline dig-ins, and drunk drivers. The governor – who has already signed four of Hill’s bills – has until October 11 to sign or veto legislation.

Hill bills awaiting action by the governor:

SB 27 – Antibiotics in Livestock – Would make California the first state in the nation to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for the use of antibiotics in farm animals. Unnecessary use of antibiotics has been linked to the development of antibiotic resistant infections, which affect at least 2 million Americans each year and cause at least 23,000 deaths.

Ever since the 1950s, when antibiotics started to be used in agriculture, there has been no requirement for a prescription when using these drugs in livestock. Hill worked collaboratively with California’s farming and agriculture organizations, veterinary associations, environmental and public health organizations, and the Governor to write the legislation.

According to 2013 data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), livestock producers are the largest consumers of antibiotics in the nation, accounting for about 70 percent of antibiotics sold. The same data shows that 98 percent of antibiotics approved for use in livestock are available over the counter without a veterinary prescription. Movements to regulate antibiotic use in livestock date back to at least 1977, when the FDA first attempted to regulate them. All attempts have failed, except for voluntary guidelines released in 2013 by the FDA.

With the goal of reducing antibiotic resistance, SB 27 would establish a first-in-the-nation regulatory framework for making sure antibiotics are used judiciously in livestock. Specifically, SB 27 would do the following:

· Require a prescription for all medically important antibiotics used in livestock

· Prohibit the use of medically important antibiotics to fatten up livestock

· Place limits on using medically important antibiotics for disease prevention on an ongoing basis

· Require programs on antibiotic stewardship to promote better uses of antibiotics and to promote alternatives to reduce the need to use antibiotics in the first place

· Require monitoring of medically important antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance

· Impose penalties on producers and veterinarians – Veterinarians will be subject to existing penalties – including fines and actions against a veterinarian’s license – under California’s Veterinary Practice Act. Producers will be subject to civil penalties of $250 for each day a violation occurs; and for a second or subsequent violation, $500 for each day a violation occurs. In addition to the administrative fine, the violator must attend an educational program that has been approved by CDFA on the judicious use of medically important antibiotics within 90 days of the violation.

SB 34 – Privacy Standard for Automatic License Plate Reader – Implements privacy and security protections for data collected by automatic license plate readers, technology used by law enforcement agencies and private business that can rapidly scan thousands of license plates each minute and has raised privacy concerns. SB 34 requires public disclosure about the use or acquisition of the technology by a public agency and requires any operator to have a privacy policy that is posted on their website.

SB 741 – Privacy Standards for Cell Phone Intercept Devices – Creates transparency and privacy standards for cell phone intercept devices, a portable technology used by law enforcement that have raised privacy concerns because they are used under a veil of secrecy and can capture cell phone data from many people at once, regardless of whether or not they are a suspect. SB 741 requires public disclosure and privacy policy for the technology.

SB 494 – Facilitating California’s Earthquake Early Warning System – Helps facilitate the implementation of California’s earthquake early warning system by establishing the California Earthquake Safety Fund. SB 494 builds on existing policy to ensure California is prepared for the next Big One.

SB 705 – San Mateo County Transportation Funding – Authorizes the counties of San Mateo and Monterey to seek approval from their voters, on a two-thirds threshold, to increase their local sales tax for purposes of funding local transportation projects. Current law establishes a 2% tax cap for all counties in the state, but counties like San Mateo, Monterey and Los Angeles are at or approaching the limit. The bill provides a .5% exemption for San Mateo and a .375% exemption for the Transportation Agency for Monterey, affording each county the flexibility to place items before voters to fund local transportation programs. This bill will allow the voters in San Mateo County and Monterey County to decide if they want to further fund transportation projects in their counties.

SB 119 – “Dig-in” Pipeline and Electric Safety – Would improve pipeline safety by creating an advisory committee to investigate “dig-ins”—excavation accidents involving underground utilities—like the one at a Fresno County sheriff’s shooting range on April 17th that killed one and injured 10 others. California’s gas utilities report roughly 5,000 “dig-ins” a year—63% of which occurred because the contractor or property owner failed to call the free 811 number to have underground utilities identified before beginning work. The advisory committee’s investigations would increase enforcement of the state’s “one-call” law, would lead to the development of new standards to improve excavation safety, and would inform the state’s education and outreach efforts.

Contact: Aurelio Rojas, 916-747-3199 cell or 916-651-4013 office

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Robert Riechel

robertriechel@att.net

For San Bruno Patch

Photo Credit: San Bruno Patch Archives

Source Credit: California State Senator Jerry Hill

http://SanBrunoPatch.com

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