Second Regular Session
Seventy-fourth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
REENGROSSED
This Version Includes All Amendments
Adopted in the House of Introduction
LLS NO. 24-0659.01 Clare Haffner x6137
SENATE BILL 24-045
Senate Committees House Committees
Agriculture & Natural Resources
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING MODIFICATIONS TO THE EXEMPTIONS FROM THE101
STERILIZATION REQUIREMENT UNDER THE "PET ANIMAL CARE102
AND FACILITIES ACT".103
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
http://leg.colorado.gov
.)
The "Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act" prohibits any animal
shelter or pet animal rescue (facility) from releasing a dog or cat to a
prospective owner unless the animal has been sterilized, except in cases
in which sterilization would jeopardize the life or health of the dog or cat.
A facility in an area with limited access to licensed veterinarians may be
SENATE
3rd Reading Unamended
February 7, 2024
SENATE
2nd Reading Unamended
February 6, 2024
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Liston, Roberts
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Rutinel and Taggart,
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law. granted an exemption from the sterilization requirement by the
commissioner of agriculture (commissioner). The bill:
! Removes the exemption from the sterilization requirement
due to the health of the animal; and
! Prohibits facilities that import unsterilized dogs or cats into
the state of Colorado from receiving an exemption from the
commissioner.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 35-80-106.4, amend2
(2) and (3)(e) as follows:3
35-80-106.4. Sterilization of ownerless dogs and cats required4
- rules - exceptions - violations. (2) If a licensed veterinarian declares5
in writing that a sterilization procedure could jeopardize the life or health
6
of the dog or cat, the procedure may be delayed until such time that a7
veterinarian determines that the dog or cat is fit to undergo the8
sterilization procedure. At such time, the prospective owner shall have the9
animal sterilized. If the determination of unfitness for sterilization has10
been made prior to release, the animal shelter or pet animal rescue may11
release the dog or cat to the prospective owner, subject to the provisions12
of this subsection (2).13
(3) This section does not apply to:14
(e) A facility in an area with limited access to licensed15
veterinarians that has been granted an exemption by the commissioner;16
EXCEPT THAT ANY ANIMAL SHELTER OR PET ANIMAL RESCUE THAT17
IMPORTS UNSTERILIZED DOGS OR CATS INTO THE STATE IS INELIGIBLE FOR18
AN EXEMPTION.19
SECTION 2. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act20
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the21
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except22
045-2- that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V1
of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this2
act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take3
effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in4
November 2024 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the5
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.6
045
-3-