HOUSE BILL 239

56th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2023

INTRODUCED BY

Eliseo Lee Alcon

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO ANIMALS; PROHIBITING AN ANIMAL SHELTER FROM EUTHANIZING OR CAUSING OR SOLICITING THE EUTHANASIA OF ANIMALS IT SHELTERS OR TEMPORARILY HOUSES; CREATING A WEBSITE TO SEARCH FOR MISSING PETS; CREATING AN INITIATIVE TO HELP COUNTIES SECURE FUNDING FOR LOW OR NO-COST SPAY AND NEUTER PROGRAMS; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. A new section of the Animal Sheltering Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] NO-KILL SHELTERS.--

          A. Beginning January 1, 2028, an animal shelter shall not euthanize or cause or solicit the euthanasia of an animal that is sheltered or temporarily housed by the animal shelter, except for an animal with a severe or untreatable illness or a dangerous animal that has caused a serious injury to a person or domestic animal.

          B. Each animal shelter shall assess current operational needs, including staffing, facilities and outreach, and provide to the board no later than December 31, 2023 a comprehensive report of essential needs required to successfully conform to the requirements and anticipated effects of the provisions of Subsection A of this section.

          C. The board shall oversee and promulgate rules for the provisions of this section. A municipality or county may by ordinance prescribe a penalty for a violation of the provisions of this section."

     SECTION 2. Section 77-1B-5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2007, Chapter 60, Section 5, as amended) is amended to read:

     "77-1B-5. BOARD POWERS AND DUTIES.--The board shall:

          A. adopt infrastructure and operating standards and may enforce those standards with consideration of the recommendations by the animal sheltering committee;

          B. provide for inspections of animal shelters and euthanasia agencies;

          C. provide for oversight, including oversight of licensing requirements, regulations and discipline, of veterinarians employed by local government animal shelters;

          D. adopt methods and procedures acceptable for conducting emergency field euthanasia;

          E. adopt, promulgate and revise rules necessary to carry out the provisions of the Animal Sheltering Act;

          F. have authority to issue licenses and certificates pursuant to the Animal Sheltering Act;

          G. establish the types of licenses and certificates that may be issued pursuant to the Animal Sheltering Act and establish criteria for issuing the licenses and certificates;

          H. prescribe standards and approve curricula for educational programs that will be used to train and prepare persons for licensure or certification pursuant to the Animal Sheltering Act;

          I. implement continuing education requirements for licensees and certificate holders pursuant to the Animal Sheltering Act;

          J. conduct administrative hearings upon charges relating to violations of provisions of the Animal Sheltering Act or rules adopted pursuant to that act in accordance with the Uniform Licensing Act;

          K. provide for all examinations and for issuance and renewal of licenses and certificates;

          L. establish fees not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150) for licenses and certificates pursuant to the Animal Sheltering Act;

          M. establish committees as the board deems necessary to effect the provisions of the Animal Sheltering Act;

          N. apply for injunctive relief to enforce the provisions of the Animal Sheltering Act;

          O. conduct national criminal background checks on applicants seeking licensure or certification under the Animal Sheltering Act;

          P. keep a record of all proceedings;

          Q. make an annual report to the legislature, including information on the total number of dogs and cats spayed and neutered and the average costs per surgery paid for from the statewide spay and neuter subaccount of the animal care and facility fund. The New Mexico department of agriculture shall provide for inclusion in the annual report the number of pet foods registered pursuant to Section 76-19A-10 NMSA 1978 for the current and previous year listed by registrant;

          R. provide for the inspection of animal shelters and euthanasia agencies;

          S. develop mechanisms to address complaints of misconduct at animal shelters and euthanasia agencies and noncompliance with the provisions of the Animal Sheltering Act or rules adopted pursuant to that act;

          T. develop mechanisms to address complaints of licensee and certificate holder misconduct and noncompliance;

          U. adopt standards for maintaining records concerning health care and disposition of animals; [and]

          V. refer to the published association of shelter veterinarians standards in determining its regulations for animal shelters and euthanasia agencies;

          W. develop and maintain a website to search for missing pets that shall include the ability to post pets that are found; and

          X. coordinate a statewide initiative to assist counties in securing funding for low- or no-cost spay and neuter programs."

     SECTION 3. APPROPRIATION.--Three million three hundred thousand dollars ($3,300,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the local government division of the department of finance and administration for expenditure in fiscal year 2024 to be distributed evenly among all counties for spay and neuter programs. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2024 shall revert to the general fund.

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