BILL NUMBER: AB 2343	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Gatto

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2014

   An act to amend Section 31108 of the Food and Agricultural Code,
relating to stray dogs.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2343, as introduced, Gatto. Stray dogs: animal shelters:
holding periods.
   Existing law specifies that the required holding period for a
stray dog that is impounded by a public pound or shelter shall be 6
business days, not including the day of impoundment, subject to
specified exemptions. Existing law also requires that a public or
private shelter make reasonable efforts to contact the owner of a
stray dog and notify the owner that his or her dog is impounded and
is available for redemption, during a specified holding period, as
prescribed.
   This bill would make nonsubstantive changes in those provisions
governing the holding period for stray dogs that are impounded by a
public pound or shelter.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 31108 of the Food and Agricultural Code is
amended to read:
   31108.  (a) The required holding period for a stray dog impounded
pursuant to this division shall be six business days,  not
including   excluding the day of impoundment,
except as follows:
   (1) If the public or private shelter has made the dog available
for owner redemption on one weekday evening until at least 7 p.m. or
one weekend day, the holding period shall be four business days,
 not including   excluding  the day of
impoundment.
   (2) If the public or private shelter has fewer than three
full-time employees or is not open during all regular weekday
business hours, and if it has established a procedure to enable
owners to reclaim their dogs by appointment at a mutually agreeable
time when the public or private shelter would otherwise be closed,
the holding period shall be four business days,  not
including   excluding  the day of impoundment.
   Except as provided in Section 17006, stray dogs shall be held for
owner redemption during the first three days of the holding period,
 not including   excluding  the day of
impoundment, and shall be available for owner redemption or adoption
for the remainder of the holding period.
   (b) Except as provided in Section 17006, any stray dog that is
impounded pursuant to this division shall, prior to the euthanasia of
that animal, be released to a nonprofit, as defined in Section 501
(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, animal rescue or adoption
organization if requested by the organization prior to the scheduled
euthanasia of that animal. The public or private shelter may enter
into cooperative agreements with any animal rescue or adoption
organization. In addition to any required spay or neuter deposit, the
public or private shelter, at its discretion, may  assess
  impose  a fee, not to exceed the standard
adoption fee, for animals adopted or released.
   (c) During the holding period required by this section and prior
to the adoption or euthanasia of a dog impounded pursuant to this
division, a public or private shelter shall scan the dog for a
microchip that identifies the owner of that dog and shall make
reasonable efforts to contact the owner and notify him or her that
his or her dog is impounded and is available for redemption.
   (d) As used in this division, a "business day" includes any day
that a public or private shelter is open to the public for at least
four hours, excluding state holidays.