The House Business Affairs & Labor Committee advanced HB 1133, the Traveling Animal Protection Act Environmental Education Program bill, closing a loophole that had allowed elephant performances at the Larkspur Renaissance Fair to claim an education exemption under existing law. The bill passed 11 to 2 as amended and was referred to the House Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation.
Rep. Suckla asked whether Watusi cattle — described as coming from Africa and used on ranches as lead bulls — would be prohibited under the bill. Roland Halpern responded he did not believe Watusi were on the list of 10 specified species and believed they would be considered livestock and therefore exempt, but stated he would need to verify. Rep. Suckla pressed: 'How can you verify that that would be livestock? That's the question that I would need to know.' Rep. Duran stated she would get an answer before the floor vote, and Halpern said he could check fairly quickly. No resolution was recorded in the hearing.
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“Since 2021, we have seen startling evidence of groups utilizing an inadvertent loophole. In 2021, we had carved out environmental education programs which are sadly being used to exploit the law claiming elephant performances, for example, at the Larkspur Renaissance Fair qualify under the exemption.”
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Sign in to subscribeIt. Good afternoon or good morning still. Welcome to House committee on Business affairs and labor and our committee will come to order. Ms. Haroja, please call the roll. Representatives Brooks. Present. English Gonzalez. Here. Kelty. Here. Leader. Present. Mabry. Here. Marshall. Here. Morrow. Richardson. Here. Ryden. Here. Sukla. Here. Camacho. Here. Madam Chair? Present. Thank you. I see our bill sponsors are here. Who would like to begin? Majority Leader Duran had to pause there a minute. Thank you Madam Chair, and thank you. Committee. House Bill 1133 is a bill that is near and dear to me. I ran legislation back in 2021 that enacted the Traveling Animal Protection Act. The law prohibited using certain wild animals such as lions, tigers, elephants and other non native animals from being used in performances for entertainment, including like circ parades, animal rides and primarily used for photo opportunities. Since 2021, we have seen startling evidence of groups utilizing an inadvertent loophole. In 2021, we had carved out environmental education programs which are sadly being used to exploit the law claiming elephant performances, for example, at the Larkspur Renaissance Fair qualify under the exemption. This loophole has led to not only…
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