Bill Text: CA SB245 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Chaptered

California Senate Bill 245 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Public animal shelters: adoptions: veterans.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2019-08-30 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 205, Statutes of 2019. [SB245 Detail]

Download: California-2019-SB245-Chaptered.html

Senate Bill No. 245

CHAPTER 205

An act to add Sections 30505, 30524.5, 31751.4, and 31764.5 to the Food and Agricultural Code, relating to public animal shelters.

[ Approved by Governor August 30, 2019. Filed with Secretary of State August 30, 2019. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 245, Chang. Public animal shelters: adoptions: veterans.

Existing law governs the operation of animal shelters by, among other things, setting a minimum holding period for stray dogs and cats and requiring animal shelters to ensure that dogs and cats, if adopted, are spayed or neutered.

Existing law requires the word “VETERAN” to be printed on the face of a driver’s license or identification card at the applicant’s request, subject to certain requirements, including, among others, the verification of the applicant’s veteran status, as specified, and payment of a fee.

This bill would prohibit a public animal shelter from charging an adoption fee for a dog or cat if the person adopting the dog or cat presents to the public animal shelter a current and valid driver’s license or identification card with the word “VETERAN” printed on its face pursuant to the above-described provision. The bill also would authorize a public animal shelter to limit the number of dogs and cats adopted from that public animal shelter by an eligible veteran to one dog and cat each 6-month period.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

This bill shall be known, and may be cited, as the Pets for Vets Act.

SEC. 2.

Section 30505 is added to the Food and Agricultural Code, to read:

30505.

(a) A public animal shelter shall not charge an adoption fee for a dog if the person adopting the dog presents to the public animal shelter a current and valid driver’s license or identification card with the word “VETERAN” printed on its face pursuant to Section 12811 of the Vehicle Code.

(b) A public animal shelter may limit the number of dogs adopted from that public animal shelter pursuant to this section to one dog each six-month period.

SEC. 3.

Section 30524.5 is added to the Food and Agricultural Code, to read:

30524.5.

(b) A public animal shelter may limit the number of dogs adopted from that public animal shelter pursuant to this section to one dog each six-month period.

SEC. 4.

Section 31751.4 is added to the Food and Agricultural Code, to read:

31751.4.

(a) A public animal shelter shall not charge an adoption fee for a cat if the person adopting the cat presents to the public animal shelter a current and valid driver’s license or identification card with the word “VETERAN” printed on its face pursuant to Section 12811 of the Vehicle Code.

(b) A public animal shelter may limit the number of cats adopted from that public animal shelter pursuant to this section to one cat each six-month period.

SEC. 5.

Section 31764.5 is added to the Food and Agricultural Code, to read:

31764.5.

(b) A public animal shelter may limit the number of cats adopted from that public animal shelter pursuant to this section to one cat each six-month period.