H.B. 57

             1     

ANIMAL SHELTER AMENDMENTS

             2     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Angela Romero

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Brian E. Shiozawa

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill enacts language related to euthanasia of an animal by an animal shelter.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    authorizes an animal shelter to euthanize an animal by means of carbon monoxide
             13      gas only in certain circumstances;
             14          .    authorizes an animal shelter to use other certain methods to euthanize an animal;
             15          .    requires an animal shelter to adopt a euthanasia policy and training program; and
             16          .    makes technical and conforming corrections.
             17      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             18          None
             19      Other Special Clauses:
             20          None
             21      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             22      AMENDS:
             23           11-46-103 , as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 130
             24      ENACTS:
             25           11-46-401 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             26           11-46-402 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             27     


             28      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             29          Section 1. Section 11-46-103 is amended to read:
             30           11-46-103. Stray animals.
             31          (1) Each municipal or county animal control officer shall hold any unidentified or
             32      unclaimed stray animal in safe and humane custody for a minimum of five business days after
             33      the time of impound and prior to making any final disposition of the animal.
             34          (2) A record of each animal held shall be maintained. The record shall include:
             35          (a) date of impound;
             36          (b) date of disposition; and
             37          (c) method of disposition, which may be:
             38          (i) placement in an adoptive home or other transfer of the animal, which shall be in
             39      compliance with Part 2, Animal Shelter Pet Sterilization Act;
             40          (ii) return to its owner;
             41          (iii) placement in a community cat program as defined in Section 11-46-302 ; or
             42          (iv) euthanasia in accordance with Part 4, Euthanasia of Shelter Animals.
             43          (3) An unidentified or unclaimed stray animal may be euthanized prior to the
             44      completion of the five working day minimum holding period to prevent unnecessary suffering
             45      due to serious injury or disease, if the euthanasia is in compliance with:
             46          (a) written agency or department policies and procedures[, and with];
             47          (b) any local ordinances allowing the euthanasia[.]; and
             48          (c) Part 4, Euthanasia of Shelter Animals.
             49          (4) An unidentified or unclaimed stray animal shall be returned to its owner upon:
             50          (a) proof of ownership;
             51          (b) compliance with requirements of local animal control ordinances; and
             52          (c) compliance with Part 2, Animal Shelter Pet Sterilization Act.
             53          Section 2. Section 11-46-401 is enacted to read:
             54     
Part 4. Euthanasia of Shelter Animals

             55          11-46-401. Euthanasia of animals -- Prohibited and permitted methods.
             56          (1) An animal shelter may only euthanize an animal by means of carbon monoxide gas
             57      if using another method of euthanasia:
             58          (a) is unsafe for a person performing the procedure; or


             59          (b) causes unacceptable levels of stress for the animal.
             60          (2) (a) If it is necessary to euthanize an animal, and subject to the requirements of
             61      Section 11-46-103 , an animal shelter shall, except as permitted under Subsection (1)(a) or (b),
             62      use a method that is approved for that purpose by the most current version of the American
             63      Veterinary Medical Association's Guidelines on Euthanasia unless the method is a method
             64      described in Subsection (1).
             65          (b) Subsection (2)(a) does not apply to an animal that must be euthanized outside of the
             66      animal shelter's place of business or facility by an animal control officer who:
             67          (i) contracts with the animal shelter; and
             68          (ii) must euthanize the animal in an emergency situation.
             69          (3) (a) If an animal is euthanized under Subsection (1)(a) or (b) in a carbon monoxide
             70      chamber, the animal shelter may not euthanize more than one animal at a time in the carbon
             71      monoxide chamber unless:
             72          (i) the carbon monoxide chamber has multiple compartments or chambers designed to
             73      hold one animal per compartment or chamber; and
             74          (ii) no more than one animal is placed in each compartment or chamber.
             75          (b) If an animal shelter is authorized to use a carbon monoxide chamber under this
             76      section, the animal shelter shall:
             77          (i) use carbon monoxide that is commercially compressed; and
             78          (ii) adopt safety guidelines for the use of carbon monoxide that are consistent with the
             79      most current version of the American Veterinary Medical Association's guidelines.
             80          Section 3. Section 11-46-402 is enacted to read:
             81          11-46-402. Animal shelter euthanasia training -- Documentation.
             82          (1) If an animal shelter euthanizes animals, the animal shelter shall:
             83          (a) adopt a policy for euthanasia that mandates procedures that comply with the
             84      applicable provisions of this part;
             85          (b) adopt a euthanasia training program; and
             86          (c) require each person who conducts or assists with euthanasia to attend the training
             87      program biennially.
             88          (2) A policy and training program required in Subsection (1) shall be reviewed and
             89      approved by a veterinarian who is currently licensed in accordance with Title 58, Chapter 28,


             90      Veterinary Practice Act.
             91          (3) The animal shelter shall keep a record of training dates and who attended.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-14-14 11:30 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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