Providing for the regulation of commercial establishments maintaining certain animals, providing fees, and making penalties applicable

Currently, a registrant includes an animal shelter, pound, and research facility. A registrant is required to pay an annual fee to DALS for deposit in the commercial establishment fund and is subject to inspection. The bill places a number of restrictions on the operations of a registrant, other than a research facility. The registrant is required to collect and remit sales and use taxes on transactions involving the sale of animals. A registrant must provide for the sale, including adoption, of an animal, by written contract. Generally, once the contract is executed, the registrant transfers all legal rights in the animal to the transferee. The bill restricts a registrant from acquiring by sale livestock or any other agricultural animal (referred to as a custodial animal). If a registrant acquires a custodial animal other than by sale, the registrant must make efforts to find the owner of the custodial animal. QUARANTINE. The bill also provides that a commercial establishment must quarantine an animal that it receives from out of state. CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES. A commercial establishment that operates pursuant to an authorization, such as a registration, is subject to a civil penalty of up to $500 for violations of Code chapter 162. A commercial establishment that does not operate pursuant to an authorization is subject to a civil penalty of not more than $1,000. A person who operates without an authorization is also guilty of a simple misdemeanor. A simple misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than days or a fine of at least $65 but not more than $625 or by both.