1 Rabies Vaccination Required; Exemption. RSA 436:100 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:

436:100 Rabies Vaccination Required; Exemption.

I. Except as provided in paragraph II, every dog, cat, and ferret 3 months of age and older shall be vaccinated against rabies. Young dogs, cats, and ferrets shall be vaccinated within 30 days after they have reached 3 months of age. Unvaccinated dogs, cats, and ferrets acquired or moved into the state shall be vaccinated within 30 days after purchase or arrival, unless under 3 months of age, as specified above. Every dog, cat, and ferret shall be revaccinated between 9 and 12 months after the initial vaccination and subsequently receive booster vaccines as outlined in the most current National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians' Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control. In rabies infected areas, dogs, cats, and ferrets recently vaccinated shall be kept under control for at least 30 days before being allowed to run free.

II. A rabies immunization exemption may be issued by the local rabies control authority upon either the written recommendation of a veterinarian licensed under RSA 332-B signed by an American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine diplomate and the state veterinarian, or the written recommendation of a single veterinarian licensed under RSA 332-B who has performed titer testing as described in paragraph III. The exemption shall be valid for one year and recertified annually by a veterinarian licensed under RSA 332-B.

(a) Animals exempted due to illness or veterinary medical conditions that preclude vaccination shall be maintained in strict rabies isolation under conditions determined by the local rabies control authority until the medical condition is resolved and the animal can be immunized. Such animals shall not be allowed outdoors without being leashed and under direct physical control of an adult owner and shall be muzzled in a manner approved by the local rabies control authority.

(b) Animals exempted based on demonstrated immunity through titer testing meeting the standards in paragraph III shall not be subject to the isolation, leashing, or muzzling requirements of subparagraph (a).

III. For a single veterinarian exemption described in paragraph II, the veterinarian shall perform rabies antibody titer testing by performing a baseline titer test on the animal prior to receiving a rabies vaccination and a second titer test performed 7 to 14 days post-vaccination to establish the animal's individual immune response. Future titer testing for exemption purposes shall demonstrate antibody levels equivalent to or higher than the post-vaccination baseline established for that individual animal.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

1 Rabies Vaccination Required; Exemption. RSA 436:100 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:

436:100 Rabies Vaccination Required; Exemption.

I. Except as provided in paragraph II, every dog, cat, and ferret 3 months of age and older shall be vaccinated against rabies. Young dogs, cats, and ferrets shall be vaccinated within 30 days after they have reached 3 months of age. Unvaccinated dogs, cats, and ferrets acquired or moved into the state shall be vaccinated within 30 days after purchase or arrival, unless under 3 months of age, as specified above. Every dog, cat, and ferret shall be revaccinated between 9 and 12 months after the initial vaccination and subsequently receive booster vaccines as outlined in the most current National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians' Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control. In rabies infected areas, dogs, cats, and ferrets recently vaccinated shall be kept under control for at least 30 days before being allowed to run free.

II. A rabies immunization exemption may be issued by the local rabies control authority upon either the written recommendation of a veterinarian licensed under RSA 332-B signed by an American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine diplomate and the state veterinarian, or the written recommendation of a single veterinarian licensed under RSA 332-B who has performed titer testing as described in paragraph III. The exemption shall be valid for one year and recertified annually by a veterinarian licensed under RSA 332-B.

(a) Animals exempted due to illness or veterinary medical conditions that preclude vaccination shall be maintained in strict rabies isolation under conditions determined by the local rabies control authority until the medical condition is resolved and the animal can be immunized. Such animals shall not be allowed outdoors without being leashed and under direct physical control of an adult owner and shall be muzzled in a manner approved by the local rabies control authority.

(b) Animals exempted based on demonstrated immunity through titer testing meeting the standards in paragraph III shall not be subject to the isolation, leashing, or muzzling requirements of subparagraph (a).

III. For a single veterinarian exemption described in paragraph II, the veterinarian shall perform rabies antibody titer testing by performing a baseline titer test on the animal prior to receiving a rabies vaccination and a second titer test performed 7 to 14 days post-vaccination to establish the animal's individual immune response. Future titer testing for exemption purposes shall demonstrate antibody levels equivalent to or higher than the post-vaccination baseline established for that individual animal.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.