Bill Text: CA SB245 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Enrolled

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Public animal shelters: adoptions: veterans.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2019-08-30 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 205, Statutes of 2019. [SB245 Detail]

Download: California-2019-SB245-Enrolled.html

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Enrolled  August 16, 2019

Passed  IN  Senate  August 15, 2019

Passed  IN  Assembly  July 11, 2019

Amended  IN  Assembly  June 18, 2019

Amended  IN  Senate  April 04, 2019

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 245

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Introduced by Senator Chang
(Coauthors: Senators Archuleta, Bates, Galgiani, Jackson, and Wilk)
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Cristina Garcia and Mathis)

February 11, 2019

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An act to add Sections 30505, 30524.5, 31751.4, and 31764.5 to the Food and Agricultural Code, relating to public animal shelters.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 245, Chang. Public animal shelters: adoptions: veterans.

Existing law governs the operation of animal shelters by, among other things, setting a minimum holding period for stray dogs and cats and requiring animal shelters to ensure that dogs and cats, if adopted, are spayed or neutered.

Existing law requires the word “VETERAN” to be printed on the face of a driver’s license or identification card at the applicant’s request, subject to certain requirements, including, among others, the verification of the applicant’s veteran status, as specified, and payment of a fee.

This bill would prohibit a public animal shelter from charging an adoption fee for a dog or cat if the person adopting the dog or cat presents to the public animal shelter a current and valid driver’s license or identification card with the word “VETERAN” printed on its face pursuant to the above-described provision. The bill also would authorize a public animal shelter to limit the number of dogs and cats adopted from that public animal shelter by an eligible veteran to one dog and cat each 6-month period.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 This bill shall be known, and may be cited, as the Pets for Vets Act.

SEC. 2.

 Section 30505 is added to the Food and Agricultural Code, to read:

30505.

 (a) A public animal shelter shall not charge an adoption fee for a dog if the person adopting the dog presents to the public animal shelter a current and valid driver’s license or identification card with the word “VETERAN” printed on its face pursuant to Section 12811 of the Vehicle Code.

(b) A public animal shelter may limit the number of dogs adopted from that public animal shelter pursuant to this section to one dog each six-month period.

SEC. 3.

 Section 30524.5 is added to the Food and Agricultural Code, to read:

30524.5.

 (a) A public animal shelter shall not charge an adoption fee for a dog if the person adopting the dog presents to the public animal shelter a current and valid driver’s license or identification card with the word “VETERAN” printed on its face pursuant to Section 12811 of the Vehicle Code.

(b) A public animal shelter may limit the number of dogs adopted from that public animal shelter pursuant to this section to one dog each six-month period.

SEC. 4.

 Section 31751.4 is added to the Food and Agricultural Code, to read:

31751.4.

 (a) A public animal shelter shall not charge an adoption fee for a cat if the person adopting the cat presents to the public animal shelter a current and valid driver’s license or identification card with the word “VETERAN” printed on its face pursuant to Section 12811 of the Vehicle Code.

(b) A public animal shelter may limit the number of cats adopted from that public animal shelter pursuant to this section to one cat each six-month period.

SEC. 5.

 Section 31764.5 is added to the Food and Agricultural Code, to read:

31764.5.

 (a) A public animal shelter shall not charge an adoption fee for a cat if the person adopting the cat presents to the public animal shelter a current and valid driver’s license or identification card with the word “VETERAN” printed on its face pursuant to Section 12811 of the Vehicle Code.

(b) A public animal shelter may limit the number of cats adopted from that public animal shelter pursuant to this section to one cat each six-month period.