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