FIRST REGULAR SESSION
97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES TORPEY (Sponsor), KIRKTON AND SHULL (Co-sponsors).
0599H.02I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To repeal section 273.327, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to animal shelter fees.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Section 273.327, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 273.327, to read as follows:
273.327. 1. No person shall operate an animal shelter, pound or dog pound, boarding kennel, commercial kennel, contract kennel, pet shop, or exhibition facility, other than a limited show or exhibit, or act as a dealer or commercial breeder, unless such person has obtained a license for such operations from the director. An applicant shall obtain a separate license for each separate physical facility subject to sections 273.325 to 273.357 which is operated by the applicant. Any person exempt from the licensing requirements of sections 273.325 to 273.357 may voluntarily apply for a license. Application for such license shall be made in the manner provided by the director. The license shall expire annually unless revoked. As provided by rules to be promulgated by the director, the license fee shall range from one hundred to two thousand five hundred dollars per year, except for commercial breeders for which the license fee shall range from one hundred to one thousand dollars per year. Each licensee subject to sections 273.325 to 273.357 shall pay an additional annual fee of twenty-five dollars to be used by the department of agriculture for the purpose of administering operation bark alert or any successor program. Pounds or dog pounds shall be exempt from payment of the fees under this section. License fees shall be levied for each license issued or renewed on or after January 1, 1993.
2. Effective January 1, 2014, an animal shelter shall be exempt from the payment of any and all fees set out in this section.
3. Prior to January 1, 2014, the director, upon promulgation of rules, may exempt any animal shelter from payment of any or all fees set out in this section.
4. In addition to other duties imposed by this section, the director may also deny any applicant of an animal shelter license or revoke the license of any animal shelter licensee, if it is determined by the director that the applicant or the licensee unreasonably profits from the charges for adoption or sales of its animals.
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