Abstract
Assembly bill #2232, introduced by Bradley of Escondido on
March 10, 1989, attempts to license all bird breeders, dealers and
exhibitors. To qualify for a license under AB2232, a person
would have to be at least 21 years old and have apprenticed for
two years under a curator at a zoo or another licensed bird
breeder. The bill would further specify minimum cage sizes for
parrots, finches and other birds. Minimum space for parrots was
defined as a cage with six square feet of floor space, three square
feet of floor space for one finch. Shipping regulations are also
prescribed, requiring the height and width of the containers to be
1-1/2 times the length of the bird being shipped. Containers
would require absorbent litter on the floor.
AB 2232 had its first hearing for the Water, Parks, and Wildlife
Committee on May 2nd. AFA appeared before the committee
opposing the requirement for licensing of breeders, special use
permits, the minimum cage sizes for parrots and finches, and the
specifying of container sizes with absorbent litter on the floor
(birds can ingest litter and suffer serious harm).
The bill was published on short notice after its introduction,
giving AFA little time to respond. Nevertheless, California legislative
liaison Laurella Desborough was able to visit a number of
committee members a couple weeks prior to the hearing as well
as organize a telephone campaign to get AFA members to
respond in writing to oppose this bill.
Good news - the hearing held May 2nd was amended to
exclude birds from its coverage. Neeclless to say, AFA members,
along with bird breeders from all over California, responded to
this bill and were certainly instrumental in getting "birds"
dropped from its coverage. The bill has been rescheduled for
hearing May 9th, as amended.