Bill Text: CA SB245 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Public animal shelters: adoptions: veterans.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2019-08-30 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 205, Statutes of 2019. [SB245 Detail]

Download: California-2019-SB245-Introduced.html

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CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 245

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Introduced by Senator Chang

February 11, 2019

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An act to amend Section 31753 of, and to add Sections 30505, 30524.5, 31751.4, and 31764.5 to, the Food and Agricultural Code, relating to public animal shelters.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 245, as introduced, Chang. Public animal shelters: adoption fees: veterans.

Existing law governs the operation of animal shelters by, among other things, setting a minimum holding period for stray dogs, cats, and other specified animals, and requiring animal shelters to ensure that those animals, 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, verification of the applicant’s veteran status, as specified, and payment of a fee.

This bill would prohibit a public animal shelter from charging an adoption fee for a dog, cat, or other animal if the person adopting the animal 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.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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Bill Text

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

SECTION 1.

 Section 30505 is added to the Food and Agricultural Code, to read:

30505.

 A public shelter shall not charge an adoption fee for a dog if the person adopting the dog presents to the public 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.

SEC. 2.

 Section 30524.5 is added to the Food and Agricultural Code, to read:

30524.5.

 A public shelter shall not charge an adoption fee for a dog if the person adopting the dog presents to the public 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.

SEC. 3.

 Section 31751.4 is added to the Food and Agricultural Code, to read:

31751.4.

 A public shelter shall not charge an adoption fee for a cat if the person adopting the cat presents to the public 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.

SEC. 4.

 Section 31753 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read:

31753.

 (a) A rabbit, guinea pig, hamster, potbellied pig, bird, lizard, snake, turtle, or tortoise that is legally allowed as personal property and that is impounded in a public or private shelter shall be held for the same period of time, under the same requirements of care, and with the same opportunities for redemption and adoption by new owners or nonprofit, as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, animal rescue or adoption organizations as provided for cats and dogs. The public or private shelter may enter into cooperative agreements with animal rescue or adoption organizations regarding rabbits that are equivalent to those cooperative agreements authorized in Section 31108 regarding dogs and Section 31752 regarding cats. Section 17006 shall also apply to these animals. In Except as provided in subdivision (b), in addition to any required spay or neuter deposit, the public or private shelter, at its discretion, may assess a fee, not to exceed the standard adoption fee, for animals adopted by new owners or released to nonprofit animal rescue or adoption organizations pursuant to this section.

(b) A public shelter shall not charge an adoption fee for an animal if the person adopting the animal presents to the public 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.

SEC. 5.

 Section 31764.5 is added to the Food and Agricultural Code, to read:

31764.5.

 A public shelter shall not charge an adoption fee for a cat if the person adopting the cat presents to the public 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.