Amended  IN  Assembly  February 22, 2021

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 121


Introduced by Assembly Member Holden

December 18, 2020


An act to amend Sections 30505, 30524.5, 31751.4, and 31764.5 of the Food and Agricultural Code, relating to public animal shelters.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 121, as amended, Holden. Public animal shelters: adoptions: military service members.
Existing law governs the operation of animal shelters by, among other things, setting a minimum holding period for stray dogs and cats and requiring animal shelters to ensure that dogs and cats, if adopted, are spayed or neutered.
Existing law requires the word “VETERAN” to be printed on the face of a driver’s license or identification card at the applicant’s request, subject to certain requirements, including, among others, the verification of the applicant’s veteran status, as specified, and payment of a fee.
Existing law prohibits a public animal shelter from charging an adoption fee for a dog or cat if the person adopting the dog or cat presents to the public animal shelter a current and valid driver’s license or identification card with the word “VETERAN” printed on its face pursuant to the above-described provision.
Existing law authorizes a public animal shelter to limit the number of dogs and cats adopted from that public animal shelter by an eligible veteran to one dog and cat each 6-month period.
This bill would further prohibit a public animal shelter from charging an adoption fee for a dog or cat if the person adopting the dog or cat is either an active duty military service member who presents to the public animal shelter a current military identification card or a former military service member who presents to the public animal shelter a DD Form 214 verifying military service. card.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 This bill shall be known, and may be cited, as the Pets for Vets Act.

SEC. 2.

 Section 30505 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:

30505.
 (a) A public animal shelter shall not charge an adoption fee for a dog if the person adopting the dog is any either of the following:
(1) An active duty military service member who presents to the public animal shelter a current military identification card.

(2)A former military service member who presents to the public animal shelter a DD Form 214 verifying military service.

(3)

(2) A former military service member who presents to the public animal shelter a current and valid driver’s license or identification card with the word “VETERAN” printed on its face pursuant to Section 12811 of the Vehicle Code.
(b) A public animal shelter may limit the number of dogs adopted from that public animal shelter pursuant to this section to one dog each six-month period.

SEC. 3.

 Section 30524.5 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:

30524.5.
 (a) A public animal shelter shall not charge an adoption fee for a dog if the person adopting the dog is any either of the following:
(1) An active duty military service member who presents to the public animal shelter a current military identification card.

(2)A former military service member who presents to the public animal shelter a DD Form 214 verifying military service.

(3)

(2) A former military service member who presents to the public animal shelter a current and valid driver’s license or identification card with the word “VETERAN” printed on its face pursuant to Section 12811 of the Vehicle Code.
(b) A public animal shelter may limit the number of dogs adopted from that public animal shelter pursuant to this section to one dog each six-month period.

SEC. 4.

 Section 31751.4 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:

31751.4.
 (a) A public animal shelter shall not charge an adoption fee for a cat if the person adopting the cat is any either of the following:
(1) An active duty military service member who presents to the public animal shelter a current military identification card.

(2)A former military service member who presents to the public animal shelter a DD Form 214 verifying military service.

(3)

(2) A former military service member who presents to the public animal shelter a current and valid driver’s license or identification card with the word “VETERAN” printed on its face pursuant to Section 12811 of the Vehicle Code.
(b) A public animal shelter may limit the number of cats adopted from that public animal shelter pursuant to this section to one cat each six-month period.

SEC. 5.

 Section 31764.5 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:

31764.5.
 (a) A public animal shelter shall not charge an adoption fee for a cat if the person adopting the cat is any either of the following:
(1) An active duty military service member who presents to the public animal shelter a current military identification card.

(2)A former military service member who presents to the public animal shelter a DD Form 214 verifying military service.

(3)

(2) A former military service member who presents to the public animal shelter a current and valid driver’s license or identification card with the word “VETERAN” printed on its face pursuant to Section 12811 of the Vehicle Code.
(b) A public animal shelter may limit the number of cats adopted from that public animal shelter pursuant to this section to one cat each six-month period.