Animal Control (6)

Date of Last Recorded Action: 5/7/2024

HB 0136 OpposeAnimal Shelters - Must Post Picture of Impounded Animal on Website Demetrius Douglas
2/7/2019 House Second Readers Agriculture and Consumer Affairs --
2019/02/08 Report Animal Control General County Government Todd Edwards

Current law requires county animal shelters which impound an animal to notify the owner immediately upon impoundment, then go through certain steps if the owner cannot be reached.  This bill additionally requires animal shelters to immediately post a photograph of the animal, along with the animal's breed, on the animal shelter's website.   ACCG believes there is indeed good intent behind this legislation; however, there are many counties that simply lack the resources to do this and there are too many variables and challenges which make this infeasible.  

HB 0854 NeutralBattery-Charged Electric Fences Dale Rutledge
3/13/2020 Senate Read and Referred Governmental Affairs Assignments -
2020/02/07 2020/02/28 Report 2020/03/06 Report 2020/03/13 Report Agriculture
Animal Control General County Government Law Enforcement Preemption Public Safety and Courts
Todd Edwards

This bill stipulates that local governments shall treat/regulate battery-charged "fence detection systems" as they do other alarm systems as defined in law.  A fence detection system is an alarm system or electronic security system and ancillary components attached to the system that must be surrounded by a nonelectric perimeter fence or wall that is at least five feet tall and marked with conspicuous warning signs reading "Warning-Electric Fence".   These fences may only be deployed in industrial and commercial districts.    

HB 0886 NeutralAnimals - Vets Must Scan for Microchip to Verify Proper Owner Andrew Welch
3/13/2020 Senate Read and Referred Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Assignments -
2020/02/07 2020/03/13 Report Animal Control District Attorneys General County Government
Law Enforcement Public Safety and Courts Solicitors Todd Edwards
This bill requires veterinarians and veterinary technicians to scan the animals they are treating for microchips to ensure that the animal's owner is the same person presenting the animal for treatment.  If not, the veterinarian must notify law enforcement.     
SB 0338 SupportAnimal Dealers - Change License Requirements Kay Kirkpatrick
3/13/2020 House Second Readers Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Agriculture and Consumer Affairs -
2020/02/07 2020/03/06 Report 2020/03/13 Report Animal Control General County Government
Public Safety and Courts Todd Edwards
This legislation reduces, from 30 to 20, the amount of animals that can be sold by a pet dealer each year before they are required to be a licensed pet dealer.  It also doubles, from $400 to $800, the fee for a license; requires dealers to provide a surety bond;  and sets the conditions by which that surety may be called and a dealer may have their license revoked.     
SB 0468 NeutralDisabled Vets May Register Service Dogs with Animal Shelters Renee Unterman
3/13/2020 House Second Readers Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Agriculture and Consumer Affairs -
2020/03/06 Report 2020/03/13 Report Animal Control General County Government Public Safety and Courts
Todd Edwards
This legislation authorizes disabled veterans to register their service dog with the local animal shelter.  That registration will help reunite an owner with their service dog should the two be separated.   
SB 0476 WatchPets - Require Microchips Kay Kirkpatrick
6/15/2020 House Second Readers Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Science and Technology -
Animal Control General County Government Public Safety and Courts Todd Edwards
This bill requires pet dealers and pet adoption operations to microchip each dog and cat being sold or put up for adoption.    
Green background on status indicates a bill has been acted on the last recorded legislative day.








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