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First Substitute H.B. 273

Representative Jennifer M. Seelig proposes the following substitute bill:

             1      ANIMAL CONTROL AMENDMENTS
             2      2011 GENERAL SESSION
             3      STATE OF UTAH
             4      Chief Sponsor: Jennifer M. Seelig
             5      Senate Sponsor: Dennis E. Stowell
             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill requires with certain exceptions that a municipal or county animal control
             10      officer hold any unidentified or unclaimed stray dog or stray cat for a minimum of five
             11      working days.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    defines terms;
             15          .    requires with certain exceptions that a municipal or county animal control officer
             16      hold any unidentified or unclaimed stray dog or stray cat for a minimum of five
             17      working days; and
             18          .    makes technical corrections.
             19      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             20          None
             21      Other Special Clauses:
             22          None
             23      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             24      AMENDS:
             25          77-24-1.5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2005, Chapter 126

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             26     
             27      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             28          Section 1. Section 77-24-1.5 is amended to read:
             29           77-24-1.5. Safekeeping by officer pending disposition -- Records required -- Stray
             30      animals.
             31          (1) As used in this section:
             32          (a) "Community cat" means a feral or free-roaming cat that:
             33          (i) is without visibly discernable or microchip owner identification of any kind; and
             34          (ii) is sterilized, vaccinated, and ear-tipped.
             35          (b) "Community cat management program" means a program in which a community
             36      cat is sterilized, vaccinated, eartipped, and returned to the location where it congregates with
             37      other cats.
             38          [(1)] (2) Each peace officer shall:
             39          (a) hold all property in safe custody:
             40          (i) until it is received into evidence; or
             41          (ii) if it is not used as evidence, until it can be disposed of as provided in this chapter;
             42      and
             43          (b) maintain a proper record of the property that identifies:
             44          (i) the owner of the property, if known; and
             45          (ii) the case for which it was taken or received and is being held.
             46          [(2)] (3) (a) [Each] Except as provided in Subsection (3)(d), each municipal or county
             47      animal control officer shall hold any unidentified or unclaimed stray dog or stray cat in safe and
             48      humane custody for a minimum of [three] five working days after the time of impound prior to
             49      making any final disposition of the animal, including:
             50          (i) placement in an adoptive home or other transfer of the animal, which shall be in
             51      compliance with Title 10, Chapter 17, Municipal Animal Shelter Pet Sterilization Act, or Title
             52      17, Chapter 42, County Animal Shelter Pet Sterilization Act; or
             53          (ii) euthanasia.
             54          (b) An unidentified or unclaimed stray dog or stray cat may be euthanized prior to the
             55      completion of the [three] five working day minimum holding period to prevent unnecessary
             56      suffering due to serious injury or disease, if the euthanasia is in compliance with written

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             57      established agency or department policies and procedures, and with any local ordinances
             58      allowing the destruction.
             59          (c) An unidentified or unclaimed stray dog or stray cat shall be returned to its owner
             60      upon:
             61          (i) proof of ownership;
             62          (ii) compliance with requirements of local animal control ordinances; and
             63          (iii) compliance with Title 10, Chapter 17, Municipal Animal Shelter Pet Sterilization
             64      Act, or Title 17, Chapter 42, County Animal Shelter Pet Sterilization Act.
             65          (d) A municipal or county animal control officer may release a community cat that is
             66      part of a community cat management program before the five working day period described in
             67      Subsection (3)(a).

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