1     
ANIMAL SHELTER AMENDMENTS

2     
2020 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Angela Romero

5     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill enacts language related to euthanasia of an animal by an animal shelter or
10     animal control officer.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     addresses the methods by which an animal shelter or animal control officer may
14     euthanize an animal;
15          ▸     requires an animal shelter to adopt a euthanasia policy and training program; and
16          ▸     makes technical and conforming changes.
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] before 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 shelter animals -- Permitted methods.
56          (1) Subject to Subsection (2) and except as provided in Subsection (3), an animal
57     shelter shall use sodium pentobarbital or a derivative as the exclusive method for euthanasia of
58     an animal.

59          (2) An animal shelter shall administer sodium pentobarbital or a derivative by:
60          (a) intravenous injection by hypodermic needle;
61          (b) intraperitoneal injection by hypodermic needle; or
62          (c) if an animal is unconscious, intracardial injection by hypodermic needle.
63          (3) (a) Subsection (1) does not apply to an animal that must be euthanized outside of
64     the animal shelter's place of business or facility by an animal control officer who:
65          (i) contracts with the animal shelter; and
66          (ii) must, subject to Subsection (3)(b), euthanize the animal in an emergency situation.
67          (b) If an animal control officer must euthanize an animal in an emergency situation, the
68     officer shall use the most humane method available.
69          (4) Subsection (1) applies:
70          (a) for euthanasia of a domestic animal, on or after July 1, 2020; and
71          (b) for euthanasia of a wild animal, on or after July 1, 2021.
72          Section 3. Section 11-46-402 is enacted to read:
73          11-46-402. Animal shelter euthanasia training -- Documentation.
74          (1) If an animal shelter euthanizes animals, the animal shelter shall:
75          (a) adopt a policy for euthanasia that mandates procedures that comply with the
76     applicable provisions of this part;
77          (b) adopt a euthanasia training program; and
78          (c) require each person who conducts or assists with euthanasia to attend the training
79     program biennially.
80          (2) A policy and training program described in Subsection (1) shall be reviewed and
81     approved by a veterinarian who is licensed in accordance with Title 58, Chapter 28, Veterinary
82     Practice Act.
83          (3) The animal shelter shall maintain a record of training dates and who attended.