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Amend the amendment by striking out the substitute title and replacing it with the following:
‘Resolve, Directing the Commissioner of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources To Review and Make Recommendations Regarding the Regulation of Dog and Cat Breeding Facilities’
Amend the amendment in section 1 by striking out all of the first sentence (page 1, lines 17 to 20 in amendment) and inserting the following: 'That the Commissioner of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources shall convene a working group to evaluate the regulation of dog and cat breeding facilities in the State and recommend any changes necessary to ensure the humane treatment of animals and effective enforcement of state laws.'
Amend the amendment in section 1 in the 5th line (page 1, line 20 in amendment) by striking out the following: "representatives of" and inserting the following: 'a representative of each of'
Amend the amendment in section 1 in the 10th line (page 1, line 25 in amendment) by striking out the following: "at least"
Amend the amendment by striking out section 2 and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 2 Duties. Resolved: That the Commissioner of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources, in consultation with the working group under section 1, shall review:
1. Existing statutory and regulatory provisions pertaining to the breeding and sale of dogs and cats, including definitions;
2. The criteria and availability of documentation to determine when a kennel or breeding kennel license is required; and
3. Statutes relating to both inspection and licensing authority in order to strengthen current authority of both municipal animal control officers and state humane agents to carry out their statutory duties under state animal welfare laws and rules.
The commissioner, in consultation with the working group, may examine definitions and provisions in other states and in federal regulations that distinguish between types of facilities requiring licenses and discuss the advisability of making regulatory distinctions based on the number of dogs or cats or any other criteria; and be it further’
Amend the amendment in section 3 by striking out the last sentence (page 2, lines 11 to 14 in amendment) and inserting the following: 'The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over animal welfare matters may submit legislation pertaining to the definition and regulation of breeding facilities, breeding and sale of dogs and cats, enforcement of the State's animal welfare laws and regulations and humane treatment of dogs and cats to the First Regular Session of the 124th Legislature. The Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources shall post the report on its publicly accessible website as soon as practicable.'
 
SUMMARY
This amendment accomplishes the following.
1. It clarifies the issues to be reviewed by the commissioner and the working group convened by the commissioner for purposes of ensuring humane treatment of animals.
2. It requires that the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources post its report on its publicly accessible website as soon as practicable.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)