Download Zipped Introduced WP 8.0 HB0158.ZIP 10,221 Bytes
[Status][Bill Documents][Fiscal Note][Bills Directory]

H.B. 158

             1     

ANIMAL SHELTER PET STERILIZATION

             2     
ACT AMENDMENTS

             3     
2000 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Sponsor: Gerry A. Adair

             6      AN ACT RELATING TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT; AMENDING PROVISIONS REGARDING
             7      ANIMAL SHELTERS TO CLARIFY THAT STATE LAW DOES NOT REQUIRE
             8      STERILIZATION OF AN IMPOUNDED LOST ANIMAL IN ORDER TO RECLAIM IT.
             9      This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
             10      AMENDS:
             11          10-17-102, as enacted by Chapter 156, Laws of Utah 1998
             12          10-17-103, as enacted by Chapter 156, Laws of Utah 1998
             13          10-17-104, as enacted by Chapter 156, Laws of Utah 1998
             14          17-42-102, as enacted by Chapter 156, Laws of Utah 1998
             15          17-42-103, as enacted by Chapter 156, Laws of Utah 1998
             16          17-42-104, as enacted by Chapter 156, Laws of Utah 1998
             17          77-24-1.5, as last amended by Chapter 156, Laws of Utah 1998
             18      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             19          Section 1. Section 10-17-102 is amended to read:
             20           10-17-102. Definitions.
             21          As used in this chapter:
             22          (1) "Animal" means a cat or dog.
             23          (2) "Animal shelter" means a facility or program:
             24          (a) providing services for stray, lost, or unwanted animals, including holding and placing
             25      the animals for adoption, but does not include an institution conducting research on animals, as
             26      defined in Section 26-26-1 ; and
             27          (b) operated by:


             28          (i) a first or second class county as defined in Section 17-16-13 ;
             29          (ii) a municipality with a population of 40,000 or greater;
             30          (iii) a first or second class county operating the shelter jointly with any municipality; or
             31          (iv) a private humane society or private animal welfare organization located within a first
             32      or second class county or within a municipality with a population of 40,000 or greater.
             33          (3) "Person" means an individual, an entity, or a representative of an entity.
             34          (4) "Proof of sterilization" means a written document signed by a veterinarian licensed
             35      under Title 58, Chapter 28, Veterinary Practice Act, stating:
             36          (a) a specified animal has been sterilized;
             37          (b) the date on which the sterilization was performed; and
             38          (c) the location where the sterilization was performed.
             39          (5) "Recipient" means the person to whom an animal shelter transfers an animal for
             40      adoption.
             41          (6) "Sterilization deposit" means the portion of a fee charged by an animal shelter to a
             42      recipient or claimant of an unsterilized animal to ensure the animal is timely sterilized in
             43      accordance with an agreement between the recipient or the claimant and the animal shelter.
             44          (7) "Sterilized" means that an animal has been surgically altered, either by the spaying of
             45      a female animal or by the neutering of a male animal, so it is unable to reproduce.
             46          (8) "Transfer" means that an animal shelter sells, gives away, or by other procedures places
             47      [for adoption, or transfers] an animal [to] with a recipient for adoption.
             48          Section 2. Section 10-17-103 is amended to read:
             49           10-17-103. Animal shelters shall transfer only sterilized animals, or shall require
             50      sterilization deposit.
             51          (1) An animal shelter may not transfer to a recipient an animal that has not been sterilized,
             52      except as provided in Subsection (2).
             53          (2) An animal shelter may transfer to a recipient an animal that has not been sterilized only
             54      if the animal shelter:
             55          (a) establishes a written agreement, executed by the recipient, stating the animal is not
             56      sterilized and the recipient agrees in writing to be responsible for ensuring the animal is sterilized:
             57          (i) within 30 days after the agreement is signed, if the animal is six months of age or older;
             58      or


             59          (ii) if the animal is younger than six months of age, within 30 days after the animal
             60      becomes six months of age; and
             61          (b) receives from the recipient a sterilization deposit as provided under Section 10-17-104 ,
             62      the terms of which are part of the written agreement executed by the recipient under this section.
             63          Section 3. Section 10-17-104 is amended to read:
             64           10-17-104. Sterilization deposit.
             65          (1) A sterilization deposit [may be] is:
             66          (a) a portion of the adoption fee or purchase price of the pet, which will enable the adopter
             67      to take the pet for sterilization to a veterinarian with whom the animal shelter has an agreement
             68      that the veterinarian will bill the animal shelter directly for the sterilization; or
             69          (b) a deposit that is:
             70          (i) refundable to the recipient if proof of sterilization of the animal within the appropriate
             71      time limits under Section 10-17-103 is presented to the animal shelter not more than three months
             72      after the date the animal is sterilized; and
             73          (ii) forfeited to the animal shelter if proof of sterilization is not presented to the animal
             74      shelter in compliance with Subsection (1)(b)(i)[; or].
             75          [(c) a deposit under Section 10-17-106 required to claim an unsterilized animal impounded
             76      at the animal shelter.]
             77          (2) Sterilization deposits under Subsection (1) shall reflect the average reduced cost of a
             78      sterilization of an animal, based on the gender and weight of the animal, that is reasonably
             79      available in the area where the animal shelter is located, but the deposit may not be less than $25.
             80          (3) If a female dog or cat and her litter are transferred to one person, a sterilization deposit
             81      is required only for the female dog or cat.
             82          (4) All sterilization deposits forfeited or unclaimed under this section shall be retained by
             83      the animal shelter and shall be used by the animal shelter only for:
             84          (a) a program to sterilize animals, which may include a sliding scale fee program;
             85          (b) a public education program to reduce and prevent overpopulation of animals and the
             86      related costs to local governments;
             87          (c) a follow-up program to assure that animals transferred by the animal shelter are
             88      sterilized in accordance with the agreement executed under Section 10-17-103 ; and
             89          (d) any additional costs incurred by the animal shelter in the administration of the


             90      requirements of this chapter.
             91          Section 4. Section 17-42-102 is amended to read:
             92           17-42-102. Definitions.
             93          As used in this chapter:
             94          (1) "Animal" means a cat or dog.
             95          (2) "Animal shelter" means a facility or program:
             96          (a) providing services for stray, lost, or unwanted animals, including holding and placing
             97      the animals for adoption, but does not include an institution conducting research on animals, as
             98      defined in Section 26-26-1 ; and
             99          (b) operated by:
             100          (i) a first or second class county as defined in Section 17-16-13 ;
             101          (ii) a municipality with a population of 40,000 or greater;
             102          (iii) a first or second class county operating the shelter jointly with any municipality; or
             103          (iv) a private humane society or private animal welfare organization located within a first
             104      or second class county or within a municipality with a population of 40,000 or greater.
             105          (3) "Person" means an individual, an entity, or a representative of an entity.
             106          (4) "Proof of sterilization" means a written document signed by a veterinarian licensed
             107      under Title 58, Chapter 28, Veterinary Practice Act, stating:
             108          (a) a specified animal has been sterilized;
             109          (b) the date on which the sterilization was performed; and
             110          (c) the location where the sterilization was performed.
             111          (5) "Recipient" means the person to whom an animal shelter transfers an animal for
             112      adoption.
             113          (6) "Sterilization deposit" means the portion of a fee charged by an animal shelter to a
             114      recipient or claimant of an unsterilized animal to ensure the animal is timely sterilized in
             115      accordance with an agreement between the recipient or the claimant and the animal shelter.
             116          (7) "Sterilized" means that an animal has been surgically altered either by the spaying of
             117      a female animal or by the neutering of a male animal, so it is unable to reproduce.
             118          (8) "Transfer" means that an animal shelter sells, gives away, or by other procedure places
             119      [for adoption, or transfers] an animal [to] with a recipient for adoption.
             120          Section 5. Section 17-42-103 is amended to read:


             121           17-42-103. Animal shelters shall transfer only sterilized animals, or shall require
             122      sterilization deposit.
             123          (1) An animal shelter may not transfer to a recipient an animal that has not been sterilized,
             124      except as provided in Subsection (2).
             125          (2) An animal shelter may transfer to a recipient an animal that has not been sterilized only
             126      if the animal shelter:
             127          (a) establishes a written agreement, executed by the recipient, stating the animal is not
             128      sterilized and the recipient agrees in writing to be responsible for ensuring the animal is sterilized:
             129          (i) within 30 days after the agreement is signed, if the animal is six months of age or older;
             130      or
             131          (ii) if the animal is younger than six months of age, within 30 days after the animal
             132      becomes six months of age; and
             133          (b) receives from the recipient a sterilization deposit as provided under Section 17-42-104 ,
             134      the terms of which are part of the written agreement executed by the recipient under this section.
             135          Section 6. Section 17-42-104 is amended to read:
             136           17-42-104. Sterilization deposit.
             137          (1) A sterilization deposit [may be] is:
             138          (a) a portion of the adoption fee or purchase price of the pet, which will enable the adopter
             139      to take the pet for sterilization to a veterinarian with whom the animal shelter has an agreement
             140      that the veterinarian will bill the animal shelter directly for the sterilization; or
             141          (b) a deposit that is:
             142          (i) refundable to the recipient if proof of sterilization of the animal within the appropriate
             143      time limits under Section 17-42-103 is presented to the animal shelter not more than three months
             144      after the date the animal is sterilized; and
             145          (ii) forfeited to the animal shelter if proof of sterilization is not presented to the animal
             146      shelter in compliance with Subsection (1)(b)(i)[; or].
             147          [(c) a deposit under Section 17-42-106 required to claim an unsterilized animal impounded
             148      at the animal shelter.]
             149          (2) Sterilization deposits under Subsection (1) shall reflect the average reduced cost of a
             150      sterilization of an animal, based on the gender and weight of the animal, that is reasonably
             151      available in the area where the animal shelter is located, but the deposit may not be less than $25.


             152          (3) If a female dog or cat and her litter are transferred to one person, a sterilization deposit
             153      is required only for the female dog or cat.
             154          (4) All sterilization deposits forfeited or unclaimed under this section shall be retained by
             155      the animal shelter and shall be used by the animal shelter only for:
             156          (a) a program to sterilize animals, which may include a sliding scale fee program;
             157          (b) a public education program to reduce and prevent overpopulation of animals and the
             158      related costs to local governments;
             159          (c) a follow-up program to assure that animals transferred by the animal shelter are
             160      sterilized in accordance with the agreement executed under Section 17-42-103 ; and
             161          (d) any additional costs incurred by the animal shelter in the administration of the
             162      requirements of this chapter.
             163          Section 7. Section 77-24-1.5 is amended to read:
             164           77-24-1.5. Safekeeping by officer pending disposition -- Records required -- Stray
             165      animals.
             166          (1) Each peace officer shall:
             167          (a) hold custodial property in safe custody:
             168          (i) until it is received into evidence; or
             169          (ii) if it is not used as evidence, until it can be disposed of as provided in this chapter; and
             170          (b) maintain a proper record of the custodial property that identifies:
             171          (i) the owner of the custodial property, if known; and
             172          (ii) the case for which it was taken or received and is being held.
             173          (2) (a) Each municipal or county animal control officer shall hold any unidentified or
             174      unclaimed stray dog or stray cat in safe and humane custody for a minimum of three working days
             175      after the time of impound prior to making any final disposition of the animal, including:
             176          (i) placement in an adoptive home [or other transfer of the animal], which shall be in
             177      compliance with Title 10, Chapter 17, Municipal Animal Shelter Pet Sterilization Act, or Title 17,
             178      Chapter 42, County Animal Shelter Pet Sterilization Act; or
             179          (ii) euthanasia.
             180          (b) An unidentified or unclaimed stray dog or stray cat may be euthanized prior to the
             181      completion of the three working day minimum holding period to prevent unnecessary suffering due
             182      to serious injury or disease, if the euthanasia is in compliance with written established agency or


             183      department policies and procedures, and with any local ordinances allowing the destruction.
             184          (c) An unidentified or unclaimed stray dog or stray cat shall be returned to its owner upon:
             185          (i) proof of ownership; and
             186          (ii) compliance with requirements of local animal control ordinances[; and].
             187          [(iii) compliance with Title 10, Chapter 17, Municipal Animal Shelter Pet Sterilization
             188      Act, or Title 17, Chapter 42, County Animal Shelter Pet Sterilization Act.]




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-24-00 7:19 AM


A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


[Bill Documents][Bills Directory]