Requires any person including certified and licensed responsible pesticide applicators and commercial pesticide applicators and operators operating in the state to contact the division of plant industry of the department of agriculture and markets by phone at least forty-eight hours in advance of extermination of honey bees to obtain assistance in trying to relocate nuisance honey bee colonies or hanging swarms of honey bees, in lieu of destroying such honey bees; makes related provisions.
Requires animal shelters to annually report on intake and disposition of animals and the number of animals turned away by such shelters; requires shelters to submit such reports to the department of agriculture and markets; requires such department to post the reports on their website.
Prohibits certain food additives and food color additives; provides that in an action to enforce compliance, the recognition by the federal food and drug administration of any of these substances as safe may not be alleged as a defense.
Relates to the inspection of property that has been vacated for abandoned animals; requires property owners and lessors to inspect such property within three days and to immediately notify the appropriate authorities when such person finds an animal which appears to be abandoned.
Requires the department of agriculture and markets to maintain a publicly available database of the results of its graded inspections on its website; requires the department to provide information as to where a customer may file a consumer report; requires the department to facilitate and coordinate the planning and implementation of an awareness and educational program to inform the general public on the standards retail food stores shall meet and how consumers may report retail food stores with poor sanitary conditions.
Relates to the confinement of companion animals in vehicles in extreme temperatures; provides such animals may be rescued if certain conditions are met.
Prohibits tethering, restraining, caging or penning of dogs outdoors between the hours of 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.; provides dogs may be tethered outdoors between the hours of 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. to a stationary object or a pen or cage in a sized pen or cage four times the height and length of said dog.
Increases certain penalties for violating the prohibition of animal fighting and for aggravated cruelty to animals; requires a psychiatric evaluation for defendants convicted of aggravated cruelty to animals.
Criminalizes knowingly causing a minor to attend a place where exhibition of animal fighting is being conducted, establishes such offense is considered a misdemeanor.
Relates to aggravated cruelty to animals in the presence of a child; increases the potential term of imprisonment from two to four years when such crime is committed in the presence of a child; defines presence of a child.
Pertains to confinement of certain animals for food producing purposes; prohibits any person to tether or confine any pig during pregnancy or calf raised for veal for all or the majority of any day in a manner that prevents such animal from lying down, standing up and fully extending its limbs and turning around freely; establishes that commission of such crime shall constitute a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for a period not to exceed one year and/or fine not to exceed $1,000.