OFFICE OF FISCAL ANALYSIS
Legislative Office Building, Room 5200
Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 240-0200
http://www.cga.ct.gov/ofa
sHB-6504
AN ACT CONCERNING ANIMAL WELFARE.
As Amended by House "A" (LCO 9152)
House Calendar No.: 326
Primary Analyst: MR 5/26/21
Contributing Analyst(s):
OFA Fiscal Note
State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 22 $ FY 23 $
Department of Agriculture Animal
Population
Control -
Acceleration of
Costs
See Below See Below
Department of Agriculture GF - Potential
Revenue Gain
Less than
20,000
Less than
20,000
Note: GF=General Fund
Municipal Impact: None
Explanation
The bill makes various changes to animal-related laws.
It extends to animal shelter operators the same requirement that
animal importers currently have (that dogs and cats be examined by a
veterinarian within 48 hours of the animals entering the state).
Currently, violators are subject to a fine of up to $500 for each animal
in violation. The bill instead subjects an animal importer or animal
shelter operator to a $250 fine per animal for a first violation and $500
fine per animal for subsequent violations.
Additionally, the bill requires animal shelter operators or
maintainers to keep records of certain veterinary services for each dog
or cat for three years, as current law does for animal importers. The bill
subjects an animal importer or animal shelter operator or maintainer 2021HB-06504-R01-FN.DOCX Page 2 of 3
who violates this provision to a $250 fine for a first violation and $500
fine for subsequent violations. These provisions may result in a
minimal revenue gain, expected to be less than $20,000 annually, to the
extent violations occur.
Also, the bill requires the Department of Agriculture (DoAg) to
develop a waiver request process and form for an animal’s owner or
veterinarian to request a reduction of a rabies quarantine period from
six months to four months for animals exposed to rabies. The bill
requires DoAg to post the process and form on their website. This is
not anticipated to result in a fiscal impact as the agency currently has
expertise for this purpose.
It increases, from 10% to 20%, the maximum amount of funds that
may be expended from the animal population control account,
administered by DoAg, that may be used for sterilizing and
vaccinating feral cats.
1
These sections update the reimbursement paid to veterinarians
participating in the animal population control program up to 75% of
the market rate for sterilization and vaccination services, plus $30,
instead of $20 as under current law. Currently, a veterinarian receives,
$120 for a female dog, $100 for a male dog, $70 for a female cat, and
$50 for a male cat, per sterilization, which is expected to be less than
market rate in most municipalities.
The increase in reimbursement rate would result in the animal
population control account expending funds at a rate faster than it
otherwise would under the bill. The current balance in the animal
population control account is $644,517. In 2020, there were 5,946
vouchers were issued under the animal population control program.
1
DoAg's Animal Population Control Program: (1) provides low-income Connecticut
residents discounted sterilization and vaccination options for dogs and cats, and (2)
assists registered nonprofit rescue groups with the sterilization and vaccination of
feral cats. DoAg uses a separate, nonlapsing APC account for these costs. Revenue is
derived from a surcharge on municipal dog licenses, certain animal adoption fees for
pounds’ unsterilized cats and dogs, and proceeds from commemorative APCP
“Caring for Pets” license plates. 2021HB-06504-R01-FN.DOCX Page 3 of 3
The bill requires a veterinarian to establish a veterinarian-client-
patient relationship with the animal and the animal’s owner which has
no impact on the state or municipalities, as it applies to private, third-
parties.
Lastly, the bill makes technical and conforming changes that have
no fiscal impact.
House Amendment “A” removes certain provisions about service
animals and adds the veterinarian-client-patient and veterinary
telemedicine provisions. This has no fiscal impact.
The Out Years
The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would
continue into the future subject to the number of animals served under
the program and the number of violations that occur.