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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
study committee; animal control standards
Purpose
Establishes the Joint Study Committee on Statewide Animal Control Standards (Study Committee).
Background
A county board of supervisors (Board) exercises the powers of the county including regulating animal control (A.R.S. § 11-201). The Board employs a county enforcement agent to enforce and issue tickets for violations of animal control ordinances (A.R.S. § 11-1007). The Board appoints a hearing officer to hear the cases of animal control violations and is responsible for the licensing of dogs, permitting for kennels, and creating civil penalties for violations of animal ordinances or animal statute (A.R.S. §§ 11-1005 & 11-1006).
The Arizona Department of Agriculture regulates the handling and disposition of animals classed as livestock that have been bitten by a rabid or suspected rabid animal or are showing symptoms suggestive of rabies (A.R.S. § 11-1002).
The Department of Health Services (DHS) regulates the handling and disposition of animals other than livestock that have been bitten by a rabid or suspected rabid animal or are showing symptoms suggestive of rabies (A.R.S. § 11-1003). DHS may require the county enforcement agent to submit a record of all dog licenses issued and in addition any information deemed necessary to aid in the control of rabies (A.R.S. § 11-1003).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Establishes the Study Committee consisting of the following members:
a) two members of the Senate who are appointed by the President of the Senate (Senate President) and who are members of different political parties with one member to serve as Chairperson;
b) two members of the House of Representatives (House) who are appointed by the Speaker of the House and who are members of different political parties with one member to serve as Vice Chairperson;
d) the Director of the Pima County Animal Care Department or the Director's designee;
e) four representatives of animal control agencies, residing in different counties with populations of fewer than 800,000 persons, two of whom are appointed by the Senate President and two of whom are appointed by the Speaker of the House;
f) four representatives who represent humane animal organizations, two of whom appointed by the Senate President and two of whom are appointed by the Speaker of the House; and
g) one representative, appointed by the Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board, who is a veterinarian and who is a faculty member at an accredited veterinary college.
2. Requires each representative who represents a humane animal organization to be from a different organization that provides animal control services to a city or county that does not have a city or county shelter.
3. Requires the Study Committee to:
a) research and report on the need for statewide consistency of animal control standards;
b) submit a report, by December 31, 2023, of its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House; and
c) submit a copy of the report to the Secretary of State by December 31, 2023.
4. Allows the Study Committee to use services of legislative staff to provide administrative and operational services.
5. Requires, on the request of the Study Committee, an agency or political subdivision of Arizona to provide the Study Committee with its services, equipment, documents, personnel and facilities to the extent possible without cost to the committee.
6. Repeals the Study Committee on July 1, 2024.
7. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
· Replaces the representatives of the Maricopa County Department of Animal Care and Control Services and the Pima County Animal Care Department with the Directors of the Maricopa County Department of Animal Care and Control Services and the Pima County Animal Care Department or their designees.
Senate Action
NREW 2/2/23 DPA 7-0-0
Prepared by Senate Research
February 2, 2023
RA/SF/slp