BILL NUMBER:  S5834

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to
requiring certain animal shelters to prepare annual reports on the
number of animal intakes and dispositions

 PURPOSE :

To promote better care of animals placed in shelters by requiring
greater transparency on the part of state funded animal shelters with
regard to both the intake and disposition of animals.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section one amends the agriculture and markets law by adding a new
section 374-a which provides that any animal shelter that receives
state funding shall prepare an annual report by January first of each
year. Such annual report shall include the number of animal intakes,
including, but not limited to animals that were surrendered by owners;
were brought in by animal control, specifying from which jurisdiction;
and were brought in as strays by someone other than the animal's
owner. The report shall also include the number of animal
dispositions, including, but not limited to animals that were adopted;
were released to owners, or were transferred to other facilities,
              

specifying the facility. The report shall include the number of
animals that have died, specifying the reason for death, including
deaths by euthanasia and the reasons for such euthanasia deaths. Each
shelter that maintains a website, shall post a notice on its website
stating that its report is available to be viewed by the public, and
shall maintain each annual report for three years. Each animal shelter
shall maintain at least one printed copy of their annual report to be
viewed by the Public on site upon request.

Section two provides the effective date.

 JUSTIFICATION :

As with most organizations that receive public funding, animal
shelters that receive state funding are accountable to the public.
The number of animals that are cared for by each shelter and the
source of the animals are of interest to the public. The disposition
of such animals is of equal interest, and an important indicator of
the quality of and commitment to the rescue and care of animals. By
requiring shelters that receive state funding to reveal certain
specified information in the form of an annual report, this
legislation will promote transparency and accountability, which in
turn may lead to improved animal care and more favorable dispositions.
The financial burden to the shelters is minimal when balanced against
the potential for great gains in the quality of shelter practices.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

Minimal cast to state funded animal shelters to produce annual
reports.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however that animal
shelters subject to this act shall have completed their first annual
report no later than January 1, 2021.