BP BHEAD INT S [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to providing certain health and safety standards for registered commercial breeders of dogs and cats as pets; reenacting and amending RCW 18.130.040; adding a new chapter to Title 16 RCW; creating new sections; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. It is the intent of the legislature to assure the humane, safe, and healthy treatment of dogs and cats bred as pets by commercial breeding operations in this state. The registration of commercial breeding operations by the department of health and the establishment of reasonable state-wide operating standards will professionalize breeding operators with a fair system of accountability that merits public confidence while preventing the abuse and neglect of prospective pets that present health and behavioral problems for their adoptive pet owners. The legislature finds that current federal laws and local controls, where they exist, are disparate, incomplete, and infrequently enforced, and that the establishment of minimum uniform state-wide standards will assist commercial pet breeders in meeting public expectations consistent with recognized standards for the health, safety, and welfare of animals. The legislature recognizes the special bond between pet owners and their animal companions as an integral part of the household, and the importance of assuring public confidence in the pet industry for making healthy, happy, and loving pets available to grateful owners.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(1) "Breeder" means a person who owns or operates a facility that sells or offers for sale more than five litters of dogs and cats bred and produced annually for wholesale or retail sale.

(2) "Department" means the state department of health.

(3) "Secretary" means the secretary of health.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) No breeder may operate a facility in which five or more litters of dogs or cats, or both, are bred and produced annually for sale without a license under this chapter. No person may represent oneself as registered, or engage in any commercial breeding operations covered under this chapter, without being registered by the department of health.

(2) An application for registration must be made to the department upon forms provided, and must contain such information as the department reasonably requires including, but not limited to, evidence of ability to comply with the laws as prescribed in this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The secretary has authority to:

(1) Adopt rules necessary to implement this chapter;

(2) Establish all registration and renewal fees in accordance with the purposes and processes specified in RCW 43.70.250;

(3) Establish forms and procedures necessary to administer this chapter;

(4) Register and issue a registration certificate to an applicant covered under this chapter;

(5) Hire clerical, administrative, investigative, and other staff as needed to implement this chapter; and

(6) Maintain the official record of all applicants and licensees.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Applications for registration must be submitted on forms provided by the secretary. The secretary may require any information and documentation which reasonably relates to the need to determine whether the applicant meets the criteria for registration under this chapter. Each applicant shall pay a fee determined by the secretary under RCW 43.70.250 which must accompany the application.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The secretary may establish procedural requirements and fees for renewal of registration. Failure to renew invalidates the registration and all privileges granted by it.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. The uniform disciplinary act, chapter 18.130 RCW, governs the issuance and denial of a license, and the discipline of a breeder registered under this chapter. The secretary is the disciplining authority under this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. (1) The secretary shall appoint a pet breeder advisory committee to advise the secretary on the implementation of this chapter and on the operating standards for the commercial breeding of dogs and cats as pets by breeders. The committee is comprised of seven members consisting of one veterinarian licensed by the department, two members who are breeders registered under this chapter, two members of a state-wide association of animal care and control agencies, and two members representing the public who, in the determination of the secretary, present no conflicts of interest to matters included in this chapter. The secretary shall appoint the members for staggered terms, two members for one-year terms, two members for two-year terms, and three members for three-year terms. Subsequent appointments shall be for three-year terms.

(2) The secretary may remove any member for cause as specified by rule. In the case of a vacancy, the secretary shall appoint a person to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.

(3) The committee shall meet at the request of the secretary and hold meetings during the year as necessary to provide advice to the secretary concerning the implementation of this chapter. The committee may elect a chair and vice-chair. A majority of the members currently serving shall constitute a quorum.

(4) Each member shall be reimbursed for travel expenses, as authorized in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060, and shall serve without compensation.

(5) The secretary, members of the committee, or individuals acting on their behalf are immune from civil action for official acts performed in the course of their duties.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. The secretary, in consultation with the advisory committee and with the cooperation of professional veterinary associations, humane societies, and other groups, associations, and organizations involved in the proper care and treatment of animals, shall adopt rules establishing a standardized program of responsible veterinary care to be implemented by breeders. The program shall include, but not be limited to, provisions for vaccinations, internal and external parasite control, disease prevention and control, grooming, spaying, neutering and care of pregnant animals, first aid and emergency care protocols, housing considerations associated with illness and injury, and humane euthanasia methods. The secretary is guided by the requirements of federal law and the program standards may not be inconsistent with federal requirements established pursuant to the animal welfare act, and any rules and regulations adopted thereto, or its successor, now or hereinafter amended.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. Each year the department must compile, publish, and make available to the public a list of breeders registered by the department. The department must provide on request current rules establishing breeder operating standards and a copy of this chapter with the integrated disciplinary process.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. In addition to any action the secretary may take for acts of unprofessional conduct specified under the uniform disciplinary act, chapter 18.130 RCW, the secretary may deny or revoke the registration of a breeder if that breeder:

(1) Violates this act or any implementing rule adopted under this act that is considered an act of unprofessional conduct for the purposes of the uniform disciplinary act;

(2) Is convicted of a crime relating to cruelty to animals; or

(3) Violates any animal protection law of this state concerning the proper breeding, care, housing, raising, or treatment of animals.

Sec. 12. RCW 18.130.040 and 1996 c 200 s 32 and 1996 c 81 s 5 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

(1) This chapter applies only to the secretary and the boards and commissions having jurisdiction in relation to the professions licensed under the chapters specified in this section. This chapter does not apply to any business or profession not licensed under the chapters specified in this section.

(2)(a) The secretary has authority under this chapter in relation to the following professions:

(i) Dispensing opticians licensed under chapter 18.34 RCW;

(ii) Naturopaths licensed under chapter 18.36A RCW;

(iii) Midwives licensed under chapter 18.50 RCW;

(iv) Ocularists licensed under chapter 18.55 RCW;

(v) Massage operators and businesses licensed under chapter 18.108 RCW;

(vi) Dental hygienists licensed under chapter 18.29 RCW;

(vii) Acupuncturists licensed under chapter 18.06 RCW;

(viii) Radiologic technologists certified and X-ray technicians registered under chapter 18.84 RCW;

(ix) Respiratory care practitioners certified under chapter 18.89 RCW;

(x) Persons registered or certified under chapter 18.19 RCW;

(xi) Persons registered as nursing pool operators under chapter 18.52C RCW;

(xii) Nursing assistants registered or certified under chapter 18.79 RCW;

(xiii) Health care assistants certified under chapter 18.135 RCW;

(xiv) Dietitians and nutritionists certified under chapter 18.138 RCW;

(xv) Sex offender treatment providers certified under chapter 18.155 RCW;

(xvi) Persons licensed and certified under chapter 18.73 RCW or RCW 18.71.205;

(xvii) Persons registered as adult family home providers and resident managers under RCW 18.48.020; ((~~and~~))

(xviii) Denturists licensed under chapter 18.30 RCW; and

(xix) Persons registered as pet breeders under section 3 of this act.

(b) The boards and commissions having authority under this chapter are as follows:

(i) The podiatric medical board as established in chapter 18.22 RCW;

(ii) The chiropractic quality assurance commission as established in chapter 18.25 RCW;

(iii) The dental quality assurance commission as established in chapter 18.32 RCW;

(iv) The board of hearing and speech as established in chapter 18.35 RCW;

(v) The board of examiners for nursing home administrators as established in chapter 18.52 RCW;

(vi) The optometry board as established in chapter 18.54 RCW governing licenses issued under chapter 18.53 RCW;

(vii) The board of osteopathic medicine and surgery as established in chapter 18.57 RCW governing licenses issued under chapters 18.57 and 18.57A RCW;

(viii) The board of pharmacy as established in chapter 18.64 RCW governing licenses issued under chapters 18.64 and 18.64A RCW;

(ix) The medical quality assurance commission as established in chapter 18.71 RCW governing licenses and registrations issued under chapters 18.71 and 18.71A RCW;

(x) The board of physical therapy as established in chapter 18.74 RCW;

(xi) The board of occupational therapy practice as established in chapter 18.59 RCW;

(xii) The nursing care quality assurance commission as established in chapter 18.79 RCW governing licenses issued under that chapter;

(xiii) The examining board of psychology and its disciplinary committee as established in chapter 18.83 RCW; and

(xiv) The veterinary board of governors as established in chapter 18.92 RCW.

(3) In addition to the authority to discipline license holders, the disciplining authority has the authority to grant or deny licenses based on the conditions and criteria established in this chapter and the chapters specified in subsection (2) of this section. This chapter also governs any investigation, hearing, or proceeding relating to denial of licensure or issuance of a license conditioned on the applicant's compliance with an order entered pursuant to RCW 18.130.160 by the disciplining authority.

(4) All disciplining authorities shall adopt procedures to ensure substantially consistent application of this chapter, the Uniform Disciplinary Act, among the disciplining authorities listed in subsection (2) of this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. Sections 2 through 10 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 16 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 14. Sections 1 through 7, 10, and 11 of this act take effect January 1, 1998.