Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H314 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2483 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 314
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Danielle W. Gregoire
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act to provide consumer protections at dog day care businesses.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Danielle W. Gregoire4th Middlesex1/19/2023Steven George Xiarhos5th Barnstable1/31/2023Josh S. Cutler6th Plymouth1/31/2023Samantha Montaño15th Suffolk2/9/2023Joseph D. McKenna18th Worcester2/9/2023 1 of 2
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2483 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 314
18	18	By Representative Gregoire of Marlborough, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 314) of
19	19	Danielle W. Gregoire and others relative to licensing of dog day care businesses. Consumer
20	20	Protection and Professional Licensure.
21	21	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
22	22	_______________
23	23	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
24	24	(2023-2024)
25	25	_______________
26	26	An Act to provide consumer protections at dog day care businesses.
27	27	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
28	28	of the same, as follows:
29	29	1 SECTION 1. Section 1 of chapter 129 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020
30	30	2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the definition of “Division”, the following
31	31	3new definition:-
32	32	4 “Dog day care business,” the business of furnishing supervision, control and management
33	33	5of dogs socializing in groups with responsibility for food, water, exercise and the provision of
34	34	6care to maintain the safety and well-being of dogs at the establishment that are not the property
35	35	7of the business owner.
36	36	8 SECTION 2. Section 9 of said chapter 129 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is
37	37	9hereby amended by inserting after the words “guard dog business,” the following:- any dog day
38	38	10care business,
39	39	11 SECTION 3. Chapter 129 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
40	40	12section 39G the following new section:- 2 of 2
41	41	13 39H. Every person engaged in operating a dog day care business shall obtain a license
42	42	14therefor from the director, the fee for which shall be determined annually by the commissioner of
43	43	15administration under the provision of section three B of chapter seven for the filing thereof, and
44	44	16such licenses shall expire on December thirty-first following the date of issuance, unless sooner
45	45	17revoked. The director shall make rules and regulations governing the method and time of
46	46	18inspections of said businesses, issuance, suspension and revocation of such licenses, penalties for
47	47	19violations of this section and the conduct of the businesses so licensed relative to sanitation
48	48	20requirements, operational safety standards, and risk management procedures. Rules and
49	49	21regulations shall include, but not be limited to, minimum commercial general liability insurance
50	50	22requirements; fire and emergency procedures; approved education, testing, accreditation or
51	51	23certification for dog day care animal care providers; and animal health and behavior
52	52	24recordkeeping, including an obligation to report to the director serious injuries to animals or
53	53	25people.
54	54	26 SECTION 4. The director shall obtain input from current Massachusetts dog day care
55	55	27business owners, employees, animal owners, licensed veterinarians and experts on industry best
56	56	28practices prior to drafting regulations for promulgation in compliance with chapter 30A and shall
57	57	29accept applications for dog day care business licensure under section 39H of chapter 129 of the
58	58	30General Laws on or before December 1, 2024.