Accessibility to emergency information and services: evacuations: pets.

Assembly Member Zbur's legislation mandates new protocols for pet rescue operations during emergency evacuations, requiring California cities and counties to incorporate specific procedures into their emergency plans. The measure establishes a framework for authorized individuals or entities to rescue pets from evacuation zones, subject to incident commander approval, while requiring local governments to designate official contacts for pet-related assistance during emergencies.

Under the bill's provisions, cities and counties must update their emergency plans to outline procedures enabling residents, their designated representatives, or authorized rescue organizations to retrieve pets believed to be alive from evacuation areas. Local governments must also create public resources for pet owners, including website listings of rescued animals and contact information for designated assistance personnel. The legislation specifies that all rescue operations remain contingent on incident conditions and emergency management authorization.

The measure institutes a 30-day holding period for pets rescued from evacuation zones, during which animals cannot be euthanized, adopted, or transferred out of local animal control custody except to in-state partner organizations maintaining tracking records. After this period, agencies must notify all local rescue and foster partners before any animal is euthanized or transferred. These requirements do not apply to animals that are irremediably suffering or were voluntarily surrendered by their owners.