The original instrument was prepared by Curry J. Lann. The following digest, which
does not constitute a part of the legislative instrument, was prepared by Jerry G.
Jones.
DIGEST
SB 337 Engrossed 2016 Regular Session Martiny
Proposed law provides for the following definitions:
(1)"Animal care facility" means an animal control center or animal shelter, maintained by or
under contract with any state, parish, or municipality, whose mission or practice is protecting
the welfare of animals and the placement of animals in permanent homes or with animal
rescue organizations.
(2)"Animal rescue organization" means any not-for-profit organization which has tax-exempt
status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, whose mission and practice is
the rescue of animals and the placement of those animals in permanent homes, and which
does not obtain dogs or cats from a breeder or broker for payment or compensation.
(3)"Breeder" means a person who holds a class A license pursuant to the federal Animal
Welfare Act 7 USC 2131, et seq., that has not been suspended in the last five years.
(4) "Cat" means a member of the Felis catus family.
(5) "Dog" means a member of the Canis familiaris family, or hybrid thereof.
(6)"Offer for sale" means to sell, offer for sale or adoption, barter, auction, give away or
otherwise dispose of a dog or cat.
(7)"Retail pet store" means a retail establishment where dogs or cats are sold, exchanged,
bartered or offered for sale as pet animals to the general public at retail. Such definition shall
not include an animal care facility or animal rescue organization.
(8) "USDA" means the United States Department of Agriculture.
Proposed law prohibits a retail pet store from offering for sale dogs and cats that have not been
obtained from the following sources:
(1) A breeder that is in compliance with present law.
(2)A breeder that has not received from the USDA, pursuant to the Animal Welfare Act, 7 USC
2131 et seq., or regulations adopted thereunder any of the following:
(a)A citation on an inspection report for a direct violation during the three-year period prior to the purchase of the dog or cat by the pet shop.
(b)A citation on an inspection report during the three-year period prior to the purchase
of the animal by the pet shop for three or more indirect violations.
(c)A citation on the two most recent inspection reports prior to the purchase of the
animal by the pet shop for no-access violations.
(3)An animal care facility.
(4)An animal rescue organization.
Proposed law prohibits a retail pet store from offering for sale a dog or cat that is younger than eight
weeks old.
Proposed law requires each retail pet store offering dogs or cats for sale to post, in a conspicuous
location on the cage or enclosure for each dog or cat, a sign containing the name of the breeder, the
breeder's USDA license number, and, if the breeder is required to be licensed in the state in which
the breeder is located, the breeder's state license number.
Proposed law requires retail pet stores offering dogs or cats for sale to maintain records of the source
of each dog or cat, including a description of the dog or cat, the name, business address, email
address, and USDA license number of the breeder for at least two years following the date of
acquisition. Such records shall be made available, immediately upon request, to any law enforcement
officer or animal control officer.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 3:2511)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer
Protection, and International Affairs to the original bill
1. Removed requirement to post USDA inspection reports of the breeder for the two
years prior to the first day that the dog or cat is offered for sale.
2. Revised requirements that sign contain certain information, and removed certain
requirements requiring posting of date and place of birth of each dog or cat, and sex,
color markings, and other identifying information of each dog or cat, including any
tag, tattoo, collar number, or microchip information, and certain information
concerning the breeder.
3. Changed "county" to "parish".