S-1738.1

SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5212

BySenate Higher Education & Workforce Development (originally sponsored by Senators Palumbo, Wilson, L., Rolfes, Mullet, Wilson, C., Hunt, and Kuderer)

AN ACT Relating to adoption of dogs and cats used for science or research purposes; adding a new section to chapter 18.92 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 18.92 RCW to read as follows:

(1) A higher education facility that receives public money, including tax exempt status, or a facility that provides research in collaboration with a higher education facility, that utilizes dogs or cats for scientific, educational, or research purposes, upon conclusion of a dog or cat's use for scientific, educational, or research purposes shall:

(a) Have the facility's attending veterinarian or designee assess the health of the dog or cat and determine if the dog or cat is suitable for adoption, consistent with guidelines promulgated by the American veterinary medical association; and

(b) Make reasonable efforts to offer the dog or cat for adoption, when the dog or cat is deemed suitable for adoption, through the facility's own adoption program or through a licensed animal adoption organization. A facility that offers dogs or cats for adoption to a licensed animal adoption organization under this section may enter into an agreement to facilitate adoptions.

(2) For the purposes of this section, a "licensed animal adoption organization" is an organization qualified under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code and incorporated for the purpose of finding permanent adoptive homes for animals and licensed by the Washington state department of health.

(3) Nothing in this section shall:

(a) Create a duty upon a licensed animal adoption organization to accept a dog or cat offered for adoption by a research facility; or

(b) Prohibit a facility from completing scientific research or educational use prior to making a suitability for adoption determination.

(4) A research facility that provides a dog or cat for adoption pursuant to this section is immune from any civil liability for acts or omissions relating to the adoption of a dog or cat pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, other than acts constituting willful or wanton misconduct.

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