Connecticut 2021 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB06542 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	LCO No. 3413 1 of 3
4	4
5	5	General Assembly Raised Bill No. 6542
6	6	January Session, 2021
7	7	LCO No. 3413
8	8
9	9
10	10	Referred to Committee on PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
11	11
12	12
13	13	Introduced by:
14	14	(PD)
15	15
16	16
17	17
18	18
19	19	AN ACT CONCERNING MU NICIPAL RESTRICTIONS ON PET SHOPS.
20	20	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
21	21	Assembly convened:
22	22
23	23	Section 1. Section 22-344b of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
24	24	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021): 2
25	25	(a) A pet shop licensee shall, prior to offering a dog or cat for sale and 3
26	26	thereafter at intervals of fifteen days until such dog or cat is sold, 4
27	27	provide for examination of such dog or cat by a veterinarian licensed 5
28	28	under chapter 384. Such licensee shall maintain a record of the 6
29	29	veterinary services rendered for each dog or cat offered for sale. 7
30	30	(b) (1) If, (A) within twenty days of sale, any such dog or cat becomes 8
31	31	ill or dies of any illness which existed in such dog or cat at the time of 9
32	32	the sale, or (B) within six months of sale, any such dog or cat is 10
33	33	diagnosed with a congenital defect that adversely affects or will 11
34	34	adversely affect the health of such dog or cat, such licensee shall: (i) 12
35	35	Reimburse such consumer for the value of the actual services and 13
36	36	medications provided to such dog or cat by any veterinarian licensed 14
37	37	pursuant to chapter 384 for the treatment of such illness or congenital 15 Raised Bill No. 6542
38	38
39	39
40	40
41	41	LCO No. 3413 2 of 3
42	42
43	43	defect upon the presentation by such consumer to such licensee of a 16
44	44	certificate from such veterinarian that such dog or cat suffers or suffered 17
45	45	from such illness or congenital defect, provided such reimbursement 18
46	46	shall not exceed (I) the full purchase price of such dog or cat for any dog 19
47	47	or cat purchased for five hundred dollars or more, and (II) five hundred 20
48	48	dollars for any dog or cat purchased for less than five hundred dollars. 21
49	49	No licensee may require the consumer to return such dog or cat to such 22
50	50	licensee to receive such reimbursement, or (ii) at the option of such 23
51	51	consumer, replace the dog or cat or refund in full the purchase price of 24
52	52	such dog or cat: (I) In the case of illness or such congenital defect, upon 25
53	53	return of the dog or cat to the pet shop and the receipt of a certificate 26
54	54	from a veterinarian licensed under chapter 384 and selected by the 27
55	55	consumer, stating that the dog or cat is ill from a condition which existed 28
56	56	at the time of sale, or suffers from such congenital defect, and (II) in the 29
57	57	case of death, the receipt of a certificate from a veterinarian licensed 30
58	58	under chapter 384 and selected by the consumer, stating that the dog or 31
59	59	cat died from an illness or a congenital defect which existed at the time 32
60	60	of sale. The presentation of such certificate shall be sufficient proof to 33
61	61	claim reimbursement or replacement and the return of such deceased 34
62	62	dog or cat to the pet shop shall not be required. Any such consumer may 35
63	63	seek the assistance of the Commissioner of Agriculture in the event that 36
64	64	the licensee fails to reimburse such consumer in accordance with the 37
65	65	provisions of this subsection. No such refund or replacement shall be 38
66	66	made if such illness or death resulted from maltreatment or neglect by 39
67	67	a person other than the licensee or such licensee's agent or employee. A 40
68	68	licensee shall not be subject to the obligations imposed by this 41
69	69	subsection for the sale of a cat where such cat has been spayed or 42
70	70	neutered prior to its sale. 43
71	71	(2) Each pet shop licensee who sells dogs or cats shall post a statement 44
72	72	of customer rights pursuant to this section in a location that is readily 45
73	73	visible to the public and also provide a copy of such statement to any 46
74	74	purchaser of a dog or cat at the time of purchase. The commissioner shall 47
75	75	prescribe the content of such statement. Any statement of customer 48
76	76	rights posted pursuant to this section shall be printed in black lettering 49 Raised Bill No. 6542
77	77
78	78
79	79
80	80	LCO No. 3413 3 of 3
81	81
82	82	of not less than twenty point size upon a white background. Any 50
83	83	licensee who violates the provisions of this subdivision shall be fined 51
84	84	two hundred fifty dollars. 52
85	85	(c) Any licensee who violates any provision of subsection (a) or 53
86	86	subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section shall be fined not more 54
87	87	than five hundred dollars. Any fine assessed pursuant to this subsection 55
88	88	for a failure to reimburse a consumer, as described in subsection (b) of 56
89	89	this section, shall not preclude or be in lieu of any such reimbursement. 57
90	90	(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a 58
91	91	municipality from enacting or enforcing an ordinance that places 59
92	92	additional obligations or restrictions on pet shops pursuant to 60
93	93	subparagraph (D) of subdivision (7) of subsection (c) of section 7-148. 61
94	94	This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
95	95	sections:
96	96
97	97	Section 1 July 1, 2021 22-344b
98	98
99	99	Statement of Purpose:
100	100	To clarify that a municipality may enact or enforce an ordinance to place
101	101	certain obligations or restrictions on pet shops.
102	102	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
103	103	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
104	104	underlined.]
105	105