HB661 (2015) Detail

Relative to record keeping for sold or transferred animals.


HB 661-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2015 SESSION

15-0673

08/05

HOUSE BILL 661-FN

AN ACT relative to record keeping for sold or transferred animals.

SPONSORS: Rep. Gardner, Straf 15; Rep. Sad, Ches 1; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Watters, Dist?4

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

ANALYSIS

This bill requires licensed animal transferors to keep certain records and submit copies of such records to the director or charitable trusts.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

15-0673

08/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fifteen

AN ACT relative to record keeping for sold or transferred animals.

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

1 New Section; Record Keeping; Licensed Animal Shelters and Rescues. Amend RSA 437 by inserting after section 8 the following new section:

437:8-a Record Keeping; Licensed Animal Shelters and Rescues.

I. Each licensee shall compile and keep on its premises a record of each animal born; accepted from its owner, the police, the animal control officer; a transporter, or another licensed shelter or rescue; cared for; sold or otherwise transferred; or which died or was euthanized in the licensee’s care including the following:

(a) The total number of animals accepted by the licensee, divided by species, in the following categories: surrendered by owner; stray; impounds; confiscations; imported into the state from another state; imported into the state from another country; returned after sale or adoption. Feral cats shall be recorded as a separate category from other cats. Species other than domestic cats and domestic dogs shall be recorded as “other.”

(b) The disposition of all animals taken in, divided by species, in a format determined by the director of charitable trusts. These data shall include: adoptions and sales, reclamation by owner, died in kennel, euthanized at owner’s request, transferred to another licensed shelter or rescue within the state, transferred to a licensed shelter or rescue in another state, and the number of each species euthanized. The listing of euthanized animals shall include all animals euthanized, with feral cat figures recorded separately from other cats.

(c) The total euthanasia percentage based on total intake. The euthanasia percentage shall be calculated by the following formula: total animals euthanized minus owner requested euthanasia minus feral euthanasia divided by total intakes, minus owner requested euthanasia minus feral cat intakes.

(d) Euthanasia totals for each species shall be further broken down into at least the following categories: medical, too young to survive, too old to survive, euthanized for space, euthanized for temperament, euthanized for breed.

(e) Licensees which routinely euthanize dogs based on size or breed alone or which routinely euthanize cats based on hair color, breed, or type shall provide a statement of such policy. Such dogs and cats euthanized due to breed, hair color, type, temperament, or size shall still be recorded as euthanized and shall be included in the calculation of total euthanasia percentage required in subparagraph (c).

(f) Breed identification shall be based on clearly defined, accepted dog and cat breed assignments in accordance with the breed standards of a nationally recognized purebred dog or cat registry. Those animals which may appear to be within a family or group, such as terriers, setters, pointers, herding, or spitz-type dogs, but are not clearly identifiable as a particular breed shall be designated as “No Predominant Breed.”

II. For animals transported into New Hampshire for the purpose of sale or transfer, the following information shall be provided to the director of charitable trusts whether the originator source was a licensed animal shelter, rescue, or breeding facility:

(a) The original source for each animal, to include state and city of origin, and name and license number of organization sending animal to New Hampshire.

(b) The method of transport: the name and license number under RSA 437:3 of the person or organization which transported the animal to New Hampshire, and of the licensed organization that accepted the animal for further sale, adoption, or transfer.

(c) For how long, and where, the animal was kept quarantined in New Hampshire prior to being offered for sale, adoption, or transfer, as required under RSA 437:10, V.

(d) If the animal was dead on arrival, the likely cause of death.

III. Each licensee shall submit records, as described in this section, to the director of charitable trusts, semi-annually, by January 1 and July 1 of each year. The director shall store the records as described in this section for a period of 3 years. The director shall make this information available to the public on its website, as soon as practicable upon receipt of such records.

2 New Section; Recordkeeping: Licensed Animal Transferors. Amend RSA 7 by inserting after section 29 the following:

7:29-a Recordkeeping: Licensed Animal Transferors. All animal transferors licensed under RSA?437:3 shall furnish copies of such records described in RSA 437:8-a to the director of charitable trusts on January 1 and July 1 of each year. The director of charitable trusts shall publish such information on its website available to the public within one month of receiving such records.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2015.

LBAO

15-0673

Revised 02/12/15

HB 661-FN FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT relative to record keeping for sold or transferred animals.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      The Department of Justice states this bill, as introduced, may increase state expenditures by an indeterminable amount in FY 2016 and each year thereafter. There will be no impact on county and local expenditures or state, county, and local revenue.


METHODOLOGY:

    The Department of Justice states this bill requires animal transferors to keep certain records and submit copies of such records to the Department semi-annually. This bill requires the Department to determine the format of the reporting requirements, store submitted records for three years, and make such information publically available on its website. The Department states it will need to create a new database of licensees which may require the assistance of the Department of Information Technology. The Department of Justice states it will have increased responsibilities associated with reviewing the submitted information, ensuring compliance, and preparing documents for its website. The Department is unable to estimate the additional costs resulting from this bill.

    The Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food states this bill will have no fiscal impact on its operations. However, the Department assumes this bill may require some licensees to keep additional records which could increase licensees’ costs.