Bill Text: MI SB0419 | 2019-2020 | 100th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Animals; other; registration and regulation of animal rescues; provide for. Amends title & secs. 1, 2, 5a, 6, 7, 8, 8a, 8b, 8c, 9a & 9b of 1969 PA 287 (MCL 287.331 et seq.) & adds sec. 8d.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-07-22 - Referred To Committee Of The Whole With Substitute (s-2) [SB0419 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2019-SB0419-Introduced.html
SENATE BILL No. 419
August 20, 2019, Introduced by Senator LUCIDO and referred to the Committee on Agriculture.
A bill to amend 1969 PA 287, entitled
"An act to regulate pet shops, animal control shelters, and animal
protection shelters; to establish uniform procedures and minimum
requirements for adoption of dogs, cats, and ferrets; and to
prescribe penalties and civil fines and to provide remedies,"
by amending the title and sections 1, 2, 5a, 6, 7, 8, 8a, 8b, 8c,
9a, and 9b (MCL 287.331, 287.332, 287.335a, 287.336, 287.337,
287.338, 287.338a, 287.338b, 287.338c, 287.339a, and 287.339b), the
title and section 8 as amended and sections 8a and 9a as added by
1997 PA 7, sections 1 and 8b as amended by 2017 PA 84, sections 2,
5a, 6, and 7 as amended and section 8c as added by 2016 PA 392, and
section 9b as amended by 2007 PA 79, and by adding section 8d.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
TITLE
An
act to regulate pet shops, animal control shelters, and
animal protection shelters, animal rescues, and large-scale
breeders; to establish uniform procedures and minimum requirements
for
the adoption or
sale of dogs, cats, and ferrets; and
to
prescribe penalties and civil fines; and to provide remedies.
Sec. 1. (1) This act shall be known and may be cited as the
"companion animal sales and adoption by MDARD-regulated
organizations act".
(2) As used in this act:
(a) "Adoption" means a transfer of ownership, with or without
remuneration,
of an animal from an animal control shelter, or
animal protection shelter, or animal rescue to an individual for
the purpose of being a companion animal for that individual. As
used in this subdivision, a companion animal includes, but is not
limited to, a service dog or a dog that is used for hunting or as a
guard dog.
(b) "Alteration" means a professional sterilization procedure
performed by a veterinarian that renders a dog, cat, or ferret
incapable of reproducing.
(c) "Altered", in reference to a dog, cat, or ferret, means
having undergone alteration.
(d) Except as provided in section 8b, "animal" means a mammal
except livestock as that term is defined in 1937 PA 284, MCL
287.121
to MCL 287.131, and rodents.
(e) "Animal abuse offense" means 1 or more of the following,
but does not include the lawful use of an animal to hunt or to
participate in field trials or the lawful killing or other use of
an animal in farming or a generally accepted animal husbandry or
farming practice involving livestock:
(i) A violation of section 49 of the Michigan penal code, 1931
PA 328, MCL 750.49.
(ii) A violation of section 50 of the Michigan penal code,
1931 PA 328, MCL 750.50.
(iii) A violation of section 50a of the Michigan penal code,
1931 PA 328, MCL 750.50a.
(iv) A violation of section 50b of the Michigan penal code,
1931 PA 328, MCL 750.50b.
(v) A violation of section 50c of the Michigan penal code,
1931 PA 328, MCL 750.50c.
(vi) A violation of section 158 of the Michigan penal code,
1931 PA 328, MCL 750.158, if the violation arose out of a crime
against nature with an animal.
(vii) A violation of a local ordinance substantially
corresponding to a violation described in subparagraphs (i) to
(vi).
(viii) An attempt or conspiracy to commit an offense described
in subparagraphs (i) to (vii).
(f) "Animal control shelter" means a facility operated by a
municipality for the impoundment and care of animals that are found
in the streets or at large, animals that are otherwise held due to
the violation of a municipal ordinance or state law, or animals
that are surrendered to the animal control shelter.
(g) "Animal protection shelter" means a facility operated by a
person, humane society, society for the prevention of cruelty to
animals, or any other nonprofit organization for the care of
homeless animals.
(h) "Animal rescue" means a person that acquires an animal
through purchase, adoption, owner surrender, or any other means for
the purpose of finding the animal a new home and that maintains the
animal in a foster home.
(i) (h)
"Cat" means a domestic
cat of any age of the species
Felis
catus.Felis catus.
(j) (i)
"Department" means the state
department of agriculture
and rural development.
(k) (j)
"Director" means the
director of the department or his
or her authorized representative.
(l) (k)
"Dog" means a domestic
dog of any age of the species
Canis
familiaris.Canis familiaris.
(m) (l) "Ferret"
means an animal of any age of the species
Mustela
furo.Mustela furo.
(n) "Foster care provider" means a person that provides care
or rehabilitation to an animal in a foster home through an
affiliation with an animal rescue.
(o) "Foster home" means a private residential dwelling and its
surrounding grounds, or a facility and its surrounding grounds, at
which care or rehabilitation is provided to an animal through an
affiliation with an animal rescue.
(p) (m)
"ICHAT" means the
internet criminal history access
tool maintained by the department of state police.
(q) (n)
"Intact dog" means a dog
that has not been altered.
(r) (o)
"Large-scale dog breeding
kennel" means a facility
where more than 15 female intact dogs over the age of 4 months are
housed or kept for the primary purpose of breeding. As used in this
subdivision, "housed or kept for the primary purpose of breeding"
means that the female dog has previously been bred and whelped. A
female
dog that has not previously produced offspring shall is not
be
considered to have been housed or
kept for the primary purpose
of breeding.
(s) (p)
"Municipality" means a
county, city, village, or
township.
(t) (q)
"Person" means an
individual, partnership,
corporation, association, governmental entity, or other legal
entity.
(u) (r)
"Pet health certificate"
means a certificate in a form
prescribed by the director in which a veterinarian attests to the
species,
age, sex, gender, breed, and description of an animal, ;
any
medical conditions of the animal,
; any medical treatment and
vaccinations that the animal received while under the control of a
pet
shop or large-scale dog breeding kennel,
; and to the fact that
at the time of the preparation of the certificate the veterinarian
examined the animal and found the animal free from any visual
evidence of a communicable disease.
(v) (s)
"Pet shop" means a place
where animals are sold or
offered for sale, exchange, or transfer.
(w) (t)
"Veterinarian" means a
person licensed to practice
veterinary medicine under part 188 of the public health code, 1978
PA 368, MCL 333.18801 to 333.18838.
Sec. 2. (1) The department may promulgate rules to accomplish
the purposes of this act and to establish minimum standards for the
housing, care, and handling of animals to insure the humane care
and handling of animals. The department may also promulgate rules
to establish minimum standards for animal rescues and large-scale
dog breeding kennels. The rules shall be promulgated in accordance
with the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL
24.201 to 24.328.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, until the
department promulgates rules under subsection (1), an animal rescue
or a large-scale dog breeding kennel is subject to R 285.151.1 to R
285.151.41 of the Michigan administrative code. Notwithstanding R
285.151.25 of the Michigan administrative code, in a large-scale
dog breeding kennel, a female dog in estrus may be housed with
intact male dogs for the purpose of breeding.
Sec.
5a. (1) A person who that operates a pet shop shall not
import or cause to be imported into this state a dog or cat that is
less
than 8 weeks old. A person who that
operates an animal control
shelter or an animal protection shelter shall not import or cause
to be imported into this state a dog or cat that is less than 8
weeks old unless the dog or cat is imported with its dam. A large-
scale dog breeding kennel shall not import or cause to be imported
into this state a dog that is less than 8 weeks old unless the dog
is imported with its dam.
(2)
A person who that operates a pet shop shall not sell,
exchange, transfer, or offer for sale, exchange, or transfer a dog
or cat that is less than 8 weeks old. A large-scale dog breeding
kennel shall not sell, exchange, or transfer a dog that is less
than 8 weeks old.
(3) A person that operates a pet shop, an animal control
shelter, an animal protection shelter, an animal rescue, or a
large-scale dog breeding kennel shall not import or cause to be
imported into this state, or sell, adopt, exchange, or transfer, or
offer for sale, adoption, exchange, or transfer a dog, unless all
of the following are satisfied before the dog's entry into this
state:
(a) The dog has been vaccinated against distemper, parvovirus,
and
canine adenovirus-2 . The dog shall also be vaccinated against
rabies
and leptospirosis and, if the dog is 12 weeks of age or
older, .
against rabies and
leptospirosis. If a rabies vaccine is
required
under this subdivision, the vaccine shall must be
administered by an accredited veterinarian. A person operating a
pet shop or a large-scale dog breeding kennel shall ensure that
vaccinations other than the rabies vaccination are administered not
less than 7 days before the dog's entry into this state. The
director may require vaccinations against other diseases not
specified in this subdivision.
(b) If indicated, the dog has been treated for external and
internal parasites so that the dog is not capable of spreading
external or internal parasites to another animal at the time it is
imported into this state.
(c) The dog is accompanied by an interstate health certificate
or certificate of veterinary inspection completed and signed by an
accredited veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine in
the dog's state of origin, including records of the dog's
medication and immunization.
(4)
A person who that operates a pet shop, an animal control
shelter,
or an animal protection shelter,
or an animal rescue shall
not import or cause to be imported into this state, or sell, adopt,
exchange, or transfer, or offer for sale, adoption, exchange, or
transfer a cat, unless all of the following are satisfied before
the cat's entry into this state:
(a) The cat has been vaccinated against feline panleukopenia,
calici
viruses, and feline herpes virus-1
. The cat shall also be
vaccinated
against rabies and, if the cat is 12 weeks of age or
older, .
against rabies. If a rabies vaccine is required under this
subdivision,
the vaccine shall must be administered by an
accredited veterinarian. A person operating a pet shop shall ensure
that vaccinations other than the rabies vaccination are
administered to the cat as required by this subdivision not less
than 7 days before the cat's entry into this state. The director
may require vaccinations against other diseases not specified in
this subdivision.
(b) If indicated, the cat has been treated for external and
internal parasites so that the cat is not capable of spreading
external or internal parasites to another animal at the time it is
imported into this state.
(c) The cat is accompanied by an interstate health certificate
or
certificate of veterinary inspection filled out completed and
signed by an accredited veterinarian licensed to practice
veterinary medicine in the cat's state of origin, including records
of the cat's medication and immunization.
(5)
A person who that operates a pet shop or a large-scale dog
breeding kennel shall not sell, exchange, transfer, or deliver a
dog, cat, or ferret without providing to the purchaser a valid pet
health certificate. For purposes of this subsection, a pet health
certificate
is only valid for 30 days after the date the animal was
examined by the veterinarian who signed the certificate.
Sec. 6. (1) A municipality shall not operate an animal control
shelter unless the animal control shelter is registered with the
department.
(2)
A society for the prevention of cruelty to animals or any
other
person shall not operate an animal
protection shelter unless
the shelter is registered with the department.
(3) A person shall not operate an animal rescue unless the
animal rescue is registered with the department.
(4) (3)
A person shall not operate a
large-scale dog breeding
kennel unless the large-scale dog breeding kennel is registered
with the department. The department shall charge an annual fee of
$500.00 per registration of a large-scale dog breeding kennel.
(5) (4)
This act is not intended to apply
to a dog owner or
breeder other than a person that operates a large-scale dog
breeding kennel.
Sec. 7. Application for registration of an animal control
shelter, an animal protection shelter, an animal rescue, or a
large-scale dog breeding kennel shall be on a form prescribed by
the director.
Sec. 8. The department shall not register an animal control
shelter or animal protection shelter unless the department first
inspects it to ensure that it complies with this act and the rules
promulgated under this act. Before registering an animal rescue,
the department may inspect some or all foster homes utilized by the
animal rescue to ensure that the foster homes comply with this act
and the rules promulgated under this act.
Sec. 8a. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, an
animal
control shelter, or animal protection shelter, or animal
rescue shall not permit a person to adopt a dog, cat, or ferret
that has not been altered, unless that person has entered into a
contract for the alteration of the dog, cat, or ferret with the
animal
control shelter, or animal protection shelter, or animal
rescue. The contract shall state that the adopting person agrees to
have an alteration performed on the dog, cat, or ferret and shall
otherwise comply with this section.
(2)
A contract with an animal control shelter, or animal
protection
shelter, or animal rescue entered into pursuant to under
subsection
(1) shall must require the adopting person to have an
alteration
performed on the dog, cat, or ferret within not more
than 4 weeks after the adoption date if at the time of adoption the
dog, cat, or ferret is 6 months of age or older. If the dog, cat,
or ferret to be adopted is under 6 months of age at the time of
adoption,
the contract shall must contain the date upon which the
dog,
cat, or ferret will be 6 months of age, and shall must require
the person adopting the dog, cat, or ferret to have an alteration
performed
on the dog, cat, or ferret within not more than 4 weeks
after that date. This section does not prevent a veterinarian from
performing an alteration on a dog, cat, or ferret that is under 6
months of age.
(3) Upon certification by a veterinarian in writing that a
dog,
cat, or ferret has a serious , and
permanent medical or health
problem that prevents an alteration, the dog, cat, or ferret to be
adopted is not required to be altered. Upon certification by a
veterinarian
in writing that an alteration poses a serious , and
temporary medical or health problem, the alteration may be
postponed.
The person adopting the dog, cat, or ferret shall must
have it reevaluated by a veterinarian at intervals not to exceed 14
days
and shall must have the alteration performed no later than 7
days after a veterinarian determines that the temporary problem is
resolved.
(4) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (7), a contract
entered
into pursuant to under subsection (1) shall require the
adopting
person to leave with the animal control shelter, or animal
protection shelter, or animal rescue, or a designee of the animal
control
shelter, or animal protection shelter, or animal rescue a
good
faith good-faith deposit of at least not less than $25.00 that
indicates the person's intention to have the adopted dog, cat, or
ferret
altered within the time provided pursuant to under
subsection (2). If the person fails to comply with the terms of the
contract,
the deposit is forfeited. The good faith good-faith
deposit
shall must be returned to the adopting person if the
adopting person submits written certification from a veterinarian
of either of the following:
(a)
The dog, cat, or ferret died within during the time period
in which the alteration was required under subsection (2).
(b)
The dog, cat, or ferret has a serious
, and permanent
medical or health problem that prevents an alteration.
(5)
Money forfeited under subsection (4) shall must be
used by
the
animal control shelter, or animal protection shelter, or animal
rescue to finance alterations, for public education regarding the
value of having dogs, cats, and ferrets altered, or to otherwise
ensure compliance with this section.
(6) If the adopting person complies with the terms of a
contract
entered into under subsection (1), the good faith good-
faith
deposit of at least $25.00 shall described in subsection (4)
must be refunded by the animal control shelter, animal protection
shelter, or animal rescue, or by a designee of the animal control
shelter, or
animal protection shelter, or
animal rescue upon
submission by the adopting person of written certification by a
veterinarian that the adopted dog, cat, or ferret was altered. The
certificate
shall must include the date of alteration, the name of
the
owner of the dog, cat, or ferret, the a description of the dog,
cat, or ferret, and the signature of the veterinarian who performed
the alteration.
(7)
The good faith good-faith deposit described
under
subsection (4) is not required if 1 or more of the following apply:
(a) A dog is transferred to a local, state, or federal law
enforcement agency.
(b) A dog is transferred to an organization or trainer that
trains guide or leader dogs for blind persons, hearing dogs for
deaf or audibly impaired persons, or service dogs for physically
limited persons.
(c) A dog, cat, or ferret is transferred to another animal
control
shelter, or animal protection shelter, or animal rescue or
is
transferred to a person who that
will transfer the animal to
another
animal control shelter, or animal protection shelter, or
animal
rescue. Before the first animal control
shelter, or animal
protection shelter, or animal rescue releases the animal, it shall
obtain from the person to whom the animal is to be released a
written
statement by the second animal control shelter, or animal
protection shelter, or animal rescue that it is willing to accept
the animal for purposes of adoption or humane euthanasia. Promptly
after receipt of the animal by the second animal control shelter,
or
animal protection shelter, or animal rescue the person to whom
the animal was released shall provide the first animal control
shelter, or
animal protection shelter, or
animal rescue with a
written
statement by the second animal control shelter, or animal
protection shelter, or animal rescue containing a description of
the dog, cat, or ferret and acknowledging its receipt on a date
specified in the statement.
(8)
A contract entered into pursuant to under subsection (1)
shall
must include a statement that if the terms of the
contract
are breached because a person adopting a dog, cat, or ferret fails
to
have the animal altered as required in the contract, then the
person agrees to pay liquidated damages of the greater of $100.00
or actual reasonable costs incurred by the animal control shelter,
or
animal protection shelter, or animal rescue to enforce the
contract. Immediately before a person signs the contract, a
representative
of the animal control shelter, or animal protection
shelter, or animal rescue shall verbally direct the person's
attention to the liquidated damages agreement in the contract.
Sec. 8b. (1) Before allowing an individual to adopt an animal,
an
animal control shelter, or animal protection shelter, or animal
rescue may conduct a search using ICHAT to determine whether that
individual has a prior criminal history for an animal abuse
offense.
(2)
An animal control shelter, or animal protection shelter,
or animal rescue does not violate this act if the animal control
shelter, or
animal protection shelter, or
animal rescue searches
for an individual on ICHAT as allowed under subsection (1) and the
search fails to disclose that the individual has a prior criminal
history for an animal abuse offense.
(3) Subsection (1) does not apply to a pet shop that allows an
animal protection shelter or animal rescue to use pet shop
resources, including, but not limited to, the pet shop's premises,
facilities, employees, equipment, and advertising for pet
adoptions, or to a pet shop that works with an animal protection
shelter or animal rescue but does not perform adoptions except as
an agent of the animal protection shelter or animal rescue. A pet
shop described in this subsection is not an animal protection
shelter or animal rescue and is not liable for any pet adoptions
performed by an animal protection shelter or animal rescue.
(4) This section may be referred to as "Logan's law".
(5) For purposes of this section and section 8c only, "animal"
means a vertebrate other than a human being.
Sec.
8c. (1) An animal control shelter, or animal protection
shelter, or animal rescue may consider an individual's criminal
history when deciding whether to allow that individual to adopt an
animal.
An animal control shelter, or animal protection shelter, or
animal rescue may choose not to allow an individual who has been
convicted of an animal abuse offense to adopt an animal unless a
period of at least 5 years has elapsed since the date of his or her
conviction.
An animal control shelter, or animal protection
shelter, or animal rescue may choose not to allow an individual who
is charged with committing an animal abuse offense and enters a
plea to any other crime in exchange for dismissal of that charge to
adopt an animal.
(2) This section may be referred to as the "animal adoption
protection act".
Sec. 8d. All of the following apply to an animal rescue and
the foster homes utilized by an animal rescue:
(a) An animal rescue shall not breed animals.
(b) An animal rescue shall not take in a stray animal unless
the animal rescue is contracted with a municipality or other
governmental agency to provide animal control services.
(c) An animal rescue that uses foster homes shall maintain a
list of those foster homes that includes all of the following:
(i) The name and phone number of the foster home owner.
(ii) The street address for each foster home at which animals
are housed.
(iii) The name, breed or species, physical description, age,
and gender of each animal fostered at a foster home.
(d) Upon request, a foster home owner or operator shall
provide the department access to any part of a foster home in which
fostered animals are kept on behalf of an animal rescue.
(e) An animal rescue shall maintain verifiable records for a
period of at least 2 years. The records shall include all of the
following:
(i) The verified name and address of any person from whom an
animal is acquired, where the animal was acquired, and the date
that the animal was acquired.
(ii) A description of the animal, including the animal's
identification information, color, breed or species, gender,
alteration status, and approximate weight and age.
(iii) The date and method of the disposition of the animal. If
the animal is adopted, transferred, or sold, the records must
include the verified name and address of the person to whom the
animal is adopted, transferred, or sold.
Sec. 9a. (1)
An animal control shelter, or
animal protection
shelter, or animal rescue shall compile and maintain written
records on the total number of dogs, cats, and ferrets under 6
months of age, the total number of dogs, cats, and ferrets 6 months
of age and older, and, if applicable, all other animals received,
returned to owners, adopted to new owners, sold, or transferred
with or without remuneration to any person, the number of adopted
dogs, cats, and ferrets that were altered, the number of adopted
dogs, cats, and ferrets that were not altered, and the number of
dogs, cats, and ferrets euthanized annually, and shall annually
provide
a copy of these statistics to the department , by March 31
of the year following the year for which the statistics were
compiled.
(2) For each dog, cat, and ferret purchased or otherwise
acquired, held, transported, sold, or disposed of by an animal
control shelter, animal protection shelter, or animal rescue, the
owner or operator of the animal control shelter, animal protection
shelter, or animal rescue shall keep and maintain the following
information in a manner prescribed by the department:
(a) The name and address of the person from whom the animal
was acquired and the name and address of the person to whom the
animal was sold or otherwise disposed of.
(b) The date the animal was first acquired.
(c) A description of the animal, including the breed or
species, gender, color, and approximate weight.
(d) Any available identification information for the animal.
(e) The date, nature, and method of disposition of the animal,
including, but not limited to, sale, death, euthanasia, or
donation.
(3) An animal control shelter, animal protection shelter, or
animal rescue shall maintain the records described in subsection
(2) for not less than 2 years and shall make the records available
to the director or his or her authorized representative upon
request.
Sec. 9b. (1) If a person violates this act or a rule
promulgated under this act, the director, after notice and an
opportunity for an evidentiary hearing under the administrative
procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328, may do
either or both of the following:
(a) Suspend or revoke a license or registration issued to the
person under this act.
(b) Impose an administrative fine of not more than $1,000.00
for each violation. The director shall advise the attorney general
of the failure of a person to pay an administrative fine under this
section. The attorney general shall bring a civil action to recover
the administrative fine and costs and fees. The administrative fine
shall be deposited in the agriculture licensing and inspection fees
fund created in section 9 of the insect pest and plant disease act,
1931 PA 189, MCL 286.209.
(2) In addition to any other action authorized by this act,
the director may bring an action to do 1 or more of the following:
(a) Obtain a declaratory judgment that a method, act, or
practice is in violation of this act.
(b)
Obtain an injunction against a person who that is
engaging, or about to engage, in a method, act, or practice that
violates this act.
(3) If a person fails to comply with a contract for the
alteration of a dog, cat, or ferret as required under section 8a, a
court with appropriate jurisdiction may order transfer of ownership
of the adopted animal only to 1 of the following:
(a) The facility from which the animal was adopted.
(b)
A veterinarian, animal control shelter, or animal
protection shelter, or animal rescue willing to accept the animal
and either humanely euthanize the animal or adopt the animal to an
owner who agrees to have the animal altered.
Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days
after the date it is enacted into law.