SB535:

Research breeders; oversight by Animal Welfare Oversight Officer.

Bill Summary:

Oversight of research breeders; Animal Welfare
Oversight Officer; Animal Welfare Oversight Advisory Committee; civil
penalty. Directs the State Veterinarian to hire an Animal Welfare
Oversight Officer to inspect and oversee the operations of research
breeders, defined in the bill as a person or entity that breeds dogs
or cats for sale or transfer for use in testing or research within
or outside the Commonwealth, and report any violations of state or
federal law by the research breeder. The bill requires each research
breeder to register with the Animal Welfare Oversight Officer, pay
a registration fee as determined by the Commissioner of Agriculture
and Consumer Services, and allow the Animal Welfare Oversight Officer
continuous access to its facilities located in the Commonwealth.
The bill subjects a research breeder that does not register, pay
the fee, or allow the Animal Welfare Oversight Officer access to
its facilities to a civil penalty of $1,000 for each day of noncompliance.
The bill also establishes an Animal Welfare Oversight Advisory Committee.