SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys) today served as the floor manager for Senate Bill 1806 by Senator Liz Figueroa (D-Fremont), a measure that would create criminal penalties for leaving an animal in an unattended motor vehicle under conditions that endanger the health or well-being of the animal.

The bill, which passed the Assembly on a bipartisan vote of 58-5, now heads back to the Senate for concurrence in amendments.

“On warm days, the temperature inside a car can rise to 120 degrees in minutes, and parking in the shade or leaving the windows cracked does little to alleviate these skyrocketing temperatures,” said Assemblymember Levine, who is the Principle Co-Author of SB 1806. “Unfortunately animals suffer and die of heat stroke every year from soaring temperatures inside parked vehicles. These tragedies are entirely preventable.”

Among other things, some provisions of SB 1806 include:

• · Makes a first conviction – unless the animal suffers great bodily injury – punishable by a fine of up to $100. If the animal does suffer great bodily injury, the offense is punishable by up to six months in prison and/or up to a $500 fine;
• Allows a peace officer, humane officer, or animal control officer to remove an animal from a motor vehicle if they believe the animal’s safety is at risk. The animal must then be taken to a shelter, other place of safekeeping, or, if necessary, to a veterinary hospital for treatment; and

Requires an officer to leave the address where the animal can be claimed, only after the owner pays all the charges that have accrued for the maintenance, care, medical treatment, or impound of the animal.