SB 110

This bill requires certain persons who breed and sell dogs (commercial dog

breeders) to be licensed by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer

Protection (DATCP). The licensing requirement applies to a person who is engaged

in the business of breeding dogs and who sells or offers to sell at least 100 dogs in a

year for resale.

The bill authorizes DATCP to inspect a location for which a commercial dog

breeder license is required before issuing an initial license. The bill also authorizes

DATCP to inspect a location for which a commercial dog breeder license is required

when DATCP has reason to believe that there is a violation of this state's criminal

laws relating to the treatment of animals or of the federal Animal Welfare Act. The

bill requires DATCP to promulgate rules setting fees for commercial dog breeder

licenses. The bill provides civil and criminal penalties for operating without a

required license and authorizes DATCP to suspend or revoke a license if it finds a

violation of this state's criminal laws relating to the treatment of animals or of the

federal Animal Welfare Act.

Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime,

the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a

report concerning the proposed penalty and the costs or savings that are likely to

result if the bill is enacted.