Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt an amendment to HF 2280 that establishes fees and penalties relating to animal breeding.

Highlights:

-Specifies a fee of $15 for the issuance or renewal of a certificate of registration for a privately owned pound that sells dogs or cats (Sec. 2). -Specifies the following fees for the issuance or renewal of a state license for a commercial establishment (Sec. 2):

-A dealer, $100; -A pet shop, $50; -A commercial breeder, $40. However, a commercial breeder who owns, keeps, breeds, or transports a greyhound dog for pari-mutuel wagering at a racetrack shall pay a different fee for the issuance or renewal of a state license as provided in rules adopted by the department; -A commercial kennel, $40; -A public auction, $40; -A boarding kennel, $30; and -For the issuance or renewal of a permit for a commercial establishment, $20.

-Requires that the fees collected by the department be deposited into the Commercial Establishment Compliance Fund (Sec. 3). -Establishes the Commercial Establishment Compliance Fund in the State Treasury, consisting of money appropriated to the department, fees collected by the department, civil penalties collected by the department, and other money placed in the fund by the department, exclusively for the purpose of administering and enforcing this act (Sec. 4). -Requires that interest or earnings on the fund money be credited to the fund, and that any money unexpended or unobligated in the fund shall not revert to any other fund (Sec. 4). -Prohibits a dealer from knowingly shipping a diseased animal, and specifies that each instance of shipping a diseased animal is a separate offense (Sec. 5). -Specifies that a commercial establishment that violates one of the following elements of a standard care twice in a 24 month period is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $1000 if authorized, and not more than $2000 if operating unauthorized (Secs. 7-8):

-Adequate feed; -Adequate water; -Adequate housing facilities; -Sanitary control; -Adequate grooming practices; or -Access to veterinary care.

-Establishes that animal abuse is a an aggravated misdemeanor which carries a civil penalty with a fine not to exceed $200 (Sec. 9). -Establishes that intentional animal neglect which results in serious injury or death of the animal is a serious misdemeanor which carries a civil penalty with a fine not to exceed $100 (Sec. 9). -Establishes that animal torture is also subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $200 for the first conviction, and not to exceed $500 for subsequent convictions (Sec. 9). -Requires a person found liable to pay a civil penalty for committing animal abuse, animal neglect, or animal torture to pay the penalty to the clerk of the court who will transmit the penalties to a pound operating in the county as a donation (Sec. 9).

Full Bill Text