Animal slaughter: poultry.

Existing law specifies the method by which designated animals are required to be slaughtered by any person engaged in the business of slaughtering those animals or by any person when all, or any part, of that animal is subsequently sold or used for commercial purposes. Existing law permits a method of slaughter that requires the animal to be rendered insensible to pain by specified means before being cut, shackled, hoisted, or cast, with the exception of poultry, which may be shackled. Under existing law, a violation of these provisions is a misdemeanor. This bill would prohibit, when this method of slaughter is used, poultry from being shackled before being rendered insensible to pain by those specified means. Because a violation of this prohibition would be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.