Dog importation: health certificates.

Senator Umberg's dog importation legislation transfers oversight of California's pet health certification system from county health departments to the Department of Food and Agriculture while establishing new documentation requirements for animals entering the state. The bill requires persons selling, transporting, or importing dogs for resale or ownership changes to obtain veterinary health certificates dated within 10 days of importation and submit them electronically to both the department and buyers.

Health certificates must include examination dates, statements confirming no evidence of infectious diseases or parasites, vaccination records, and detailed information about both the animals and all parties involved in their transport. The documentation must specify the number of dogs, their breeds, ages, sex, and microchip numbers if applicable, along with physical addresses for origin and destination points. Certificates require the examining veterinarian's credentials and contact details for consignors and buyers.

The Department of Food and Agriculture must create and maintain a public website containing searchable health certificate data, excluding specific address details and phone numbers. The certificates themselves become public records available upon request without requiring formal Public Records Act procedures. The bill classifies violations as misdemeanors under the Food and Agricultural Code, establishing enforcement mechanisms at the state rather than local level.