CA AB2194

Requires humane societies and animal cruelty prevention organizations to submit fingerprint images to the Department of Justice for both state and federal criminal history background checks on humane officer applicants

Directs the Department of Justice to forward federal background check requests to the FBI, review returned information, and provide a fitness determination to the applying organization

Establishes minimum incorporation periods before organizations can appoint humane officers: five years for level 1 officers and one year for level 2 officers (applies to organizations incorporated on or after January 1, 2011)

Requires organizations to maintain written agreements or operate their own animal shelters capable of providing humane care for seized animals and preserving evidence for animal cruelty prosecutions

Took effect immediately upon gubernatorial approval on July 17, 2012 as an urgency statute