Bill Text: VA HB2590 | 2019 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Animal testing facilities; adoption of dogs and cats.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-02-05 - Left in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources [HB2590 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2019-HB2590-Prefiled.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §3.2-6591 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 13 of Chapter 65 of Title 3.2 a section numbered 3.2-6594 as follows:
§3.2-6591. Definitions.
As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:
"Alternative test method" means a test method that
(i) provides information of equivalent or better scientific quality and
relevance than animal test methods, (ii) has been identified by a validation
body and adopted by the relevant federal agency or program within an agency
responsible for regulating the specific product or activity for which the test
is being conducted, and (iii) does not use animals, or, when there is no test
method available that does not use animals, uses the fewest animals possible
and reduces the level of suffering or stress, to the greatest extent possible,
of an animal used for testing. "Alternative test method" includes
computational toxicology and bioinformatics, high-throughput screening methods,
testing of categories of chemical substances, tiered testing methods, invitro in vitro
studies, and systems biology and new or revised methods.
"Animal" means any live vertebrate nonhuman animal.
"Animal testing facility" means any facility that confines and uses dogs or cats for research, education, testing, or other scientific purposes.
"Animal test method" means a process or procedure that uses animals to obtain information on the characteristics of a chemical or agent or the biological effect of exposure to a chemical or agent under specified conditions.
"Contract testing facility" means any partnership, corporation, association, or other legal relationship that tests chemicals, ingredients, product formulations, or products on behalf of another entity.
"Manufacturer" means any partnership, corporation, association, or other legal entity that produces chemicals, ingredients, product formulations, or products.
"Validation body" means an organization that seeks to facilitate development, validation, and regulatory acceptance of new and revised regulatory test methods that reduce, refine, or replace the use of animals in testing, such as the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods or other similar organizations.
§3.2-6594. Animal testing facilities; adoption of dogs and cats.
Prior to euthanasia, any animal testing facility that no longer has need for a dog or cat in its possession that does not pose a health or safety risk to the public shall offer such dog or cat for adoption to a releasing agency or through a private placement. Such animal testing facility shall keep such offer for adoption open for a reasonable amount of time prior to euthanizing such dog or cat. An animal testing facility may enter into an agreement with a releasing agency for the implementation of this section.
