Humane officers: authorization to carry a wooden club or baton.

Existing law authorizes the formation of corporations for the prevention of cruelty to animals under the Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law. Existing law provides for the appointment of humane officers to a humane society or a society for the prevention of cruelty to animals. Under existing law, a humane officer may, among other things, exercise the powers of a peace officer in order to prevent the perpetration of any act of cruelty on an animal and make arrests for penal violations relating to or affecting animals, as specified. Existing law prescribes the powers and qualifications of level 1 and level 2 humane officers. Level 1 humane officers are authorized to carry firearms, subject to specified requirements. This bill would authorize a humane officer to carry a wooden club or baton, under specified terms and conditions, if he or she is authorized by his or her appointing society, and he or she has satisfactorily completed the course of instruction certified by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training in the carrying and use of the club or baton. The bill would also make other conforming changes.