HB1435 (2006) Detail

(2nd New Title) relative to the emergency plan for service animals and establishing a commission to study the evacuation and housing of animals during an emergency.


CHAPTER 230

HB 1435 – FINAL VERSION

22Feb2006… 0691h

05/04/06 1823s

05/04/06 2104s

2006 SESSION

06-2890

01/09

HOUSE BILL 1435

AN ACT relative to the emergency plan for service animals and establishing a commission to study the evacuation and housing of animals during an emergency.

SPONSORS: Rep. Crane, Hills 21; Rep. Morrison, Belk 2; Rep. J. Tilton, Merr 6

COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill authorizes the director of the division of emergency services, communications, and management to prepare a plan for service animals to be evacuated in the event of an emergency. The bill states that in cases of emergency it is state policy that service animals not be separated from the persons they serve.

This bill also establishes a commission to study the evacuation and housing of animals in case of an emergency.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

22Feb2006… 0691h

05/04/06 1823s

05/04/06 2104s

06-2890

01/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Six

AN ACT relative to the emergency plan for service animals and establishing a commission to study the evacuation and housing of animals during an emergency.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

230:1 New Paragraph; Emergency Services, Communications, and Management; Service Animal Evacuation Plan. Amend RSA 21-P:37 by inserting after paragraph V the following new paragraph:

VI. To prepare a comprehensive plan and program for the evacuation of hearing ear dogs, guide dogs, search and rescue dogs, and other service animals, as defined in RSA 167-D.

230:2 New Section; State Policy for Service Animals. Amend RSA 21-P by inserting after section 37 the following new section:

21-P:37-a State Policy for Service Animals. In cases of emergency, it shall be the policy of the state that service animals shall not be separated from the persons they serve. Every effort shall be made to keep service animals and the persons they serve together, and all appropriate state emergency planning and state sponsored emergency training shall be based on such assumptions.

230:3 Commission Established. There is established a commission to study the evacuation and housing of animals during an emergency.

230:4 Membership and Compensation.

I. The members of the commission shall be as follows:

(a) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(b) Three members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

(c) One member of the New Hampshire Humane Society, appointed by such organization.

(d) One member of the Humane Society of the United States, appointed by such organization.

(e) One member of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, appointed by such organization.

(f) One member from the department of safety, division of emergency services, communications, and management, appointed by the commissioner of the department of safety.

(g) The commissioner of the department of agriculture, markets, and food, or designee.

(h) The state veterinarian, or designee.

(i) One member from the Concord Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, appointed by such organization.

(j) One member of the New Hampshire Veterinary Medical Association, appointed by such organization.

II. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.

230:5 Duties. The commission shall:

I. Define “domestic pet.”

II. Develop a comprehensive plan for the evacuation and housing of domestic pets in cases of emergency.

III. Establish guidelines for evacuation and housing of livestock in cases of emergency.

IV. Give detailed protocol for coordination of state and non-profit agencies in gathering, organizing, housing, and reclaiming of animals in cases of emergency.

230:6 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Four members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

230:7 Report. The commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2006.

230:8 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

Approved: June 1, 2006

Effective: July 31, 2006