Two bills by Senator Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, have unanimously passed the Assembly Committee on Agriculture, officials said Wednesday.

Senate Bill 202, the “Doggy Donor Bill,” provides more flexibility to the rules on animal blood donation, allowing for more loving and humane treatment of animal blood donors, according to Wilk’s office.

“Ironically, my own dog is ill right now, and while she doesn’t need a blood transfusion, it certainly is a chilling reminder of how quickly a pet’s health can change. It so important to ensure there is an appropriate supply of blood available when a crisis hits our pets. SB 202 would do just that,” said Wilk. “It addresses California’s shortage of animal blood products and ensures a more robust supply of blood without housing more animals in traditional animal blood donations facilities.”

Ambiguity in existing law has led to a relatively limited regulatory scheme for animal blood banks, leading the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to approve commercial licensure only for closed-colony banks, which house dogs and cats for the specific purpose of taking their blood. Forty-nine other states already allow for flexibility in this matter, and this bill will bring California in line with the rest of the nation, according to officials.

This bill is now set to go to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for a hearing later this summer.

Additionally, Senate Bill 153 is a measure to ensure California is well-positioned to begin the cultivation of industrial hemp, according to Wilk’s office.

“The cultivation of industrial hemp presents an amazing opportunity for farmers in the Antelope Valley where they will be able to save five-acre-feet of water per acre by switching to it from other, thirstier crops,” said Wilk. “It also has the potential to bring mortgage-paying jobs to the AV. Industrial hemp is used in 25,000 different products and I believe manufacturing will follow where the hemp is being produced. Good jobs means people won’t be commuting hours up and down the hill to Los Angeles every day for work.”

In 2018, with the passage of SB 1409, California streamlined industrial hemp production rules and became compliant with then-existing federal law. Later in the year, the president signed H.R.2, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, resulting in new requirements. A state’s plan to license and regulate hemp can only commence by complying with federal law.

SB 153 would revise California’s provisions regulating the cultivation and testing of industrial hemp to conform to the requirements for a state plan under the federal farm bill. SB 153 requires the secretary of CDFA, in consultation with the governor and the attorney general, to develop and submit a state plan to the secretary of the USDA on or before January 31, 2020.

“Today’s vote ensures California’s law conforms to changes in federal law,” said Wilk. “The ability to grow and compete in the industrial hemp industry is a big win for our local farmers.”

SB 153 is now expected to move on to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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