SCS/SB 797 - This act requires individuals, or organizations on behalf of a group of individuals, seeking to train peace officers in responding to animal neglect and abuse incident reports to submit all training materials relating to animal care to the State Veterinarian and all training materials relating to offenses involving animals to the Department of Public Safety for review on an annual basis. Under this act, the State Veterinarian and Department of Public Safety shall review such materials within 14 days, and shall either approve or disapprove such materials. If disapproved, such individual or organization may appeal such decision and be issued a 14 day temporary certification as set forth in this act. Upon approval, the State Veterinarian or the Department of Public Safety shall issue a certification. This act also requires any individual, or organization on behalf of a group of individuals, to indemnify and hold the State Veterinarian and the Department of Agriculture harmless in any claim resulting from such individual or organization modifying such materials after such materials have been approved, and using such modified materials to train peace officers in responding to animal care and abuse incident reports.
Engaging in the business of animal care training using training materials that have not been certified or temporarily certified by either the State Veterinarian or the Department of Public Safety is an infraction for the first offense, and a Class D misdemeanor for the second or any subsequent offense.
This act has an effective date of January 1, 2019.
This act is substantially similar to a provision contained in SCS/HB 1355 (2018), and is similar to HCS/HB 1828 (2018), HCB 16 (2018), and SCS/SB 156 (2017).
KAYLA HAHN