02/18/09 0325s

03/25/09 0982s

2009 SESSION

09-0875

08/03

SENATE BILL 137-FN-A

AN ACT relative to animal population control.

COMMITTEE: Transportation and Interstate Cooperation

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill deletes the eligibility of a resident of this state who has adopted a dog or cat from an animal shelter to participate in the animal population control program.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

02/18/09 0325s

03/25/09 0982s

09-0875

08/03

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nine

AN ACT relative to animal population control.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

98:1 Animal Population Control; Owner Eligibility. Amend RSA 437-A:3 to read as follows:

437-A:3 Eligibility of Owner of Dog or Cat to Participate.

I. [A resident of the state who has adopted an eligible dog or cat from an animal shelter facility, as defined in RSA 437:2, I, shall be eligible to participate in the program if the owner signs a consent form certifying that the person is the owner of the dog or cat or is authorized by the owner to present the dog or cat for the operation, and such person pays a fee of $40. The sterilization shall be performed by a participating veterinarian. Dogs and cats imported from out of state into New Hampshire animal shelters or adoption agencies shall not be eligible for this program.

II.] A resident of the state who owns a dog or cat and who is eligible for one of the following programs shall also be eligible to participate in a reduced fee companion animal population control program if the owner signs a consent form certifying that the person is the owner of the dog or cat or is authorized by the owner to present the dog or cat for the procedure and such person pays a fee of $25:

(a) The Food Stamp Program authorized by Title XIII of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. section 2011 et seq.) and RSA 161:2, XIII.

(b) The Supplemental Security Income Program established pursuant to Title XVI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. section 1381 et seq.).

(c) The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Act established pursuant to 42 U.S.C. section 601 et seq. and RSA 161-B.

(d) The aid to the needy blind program established under RSA 161:2, V.

(e) The medicaid program established under RSA 167.

(f) The old age assistance program established under RSA 167.

(g) The aid to the permanently and totally disabled program established under RSA 167.

II. Dogs and cats imported from out of state into New Hampshire animal shelters or adoption agencies shall not be eligible for this program.

98:2 Animal Population Control; Veterinarian Participation. Amend RSA 437-A:4, II(b) to read as follows:

(b) For all animals sterilized under RSA 437-A:3[, II], the commissioner shall also reimburse, to the extent funds are available, any licensed veterinarian of this state participating in such program for an examination fee and the presurgical immunization of dogs and cats against rabies. Reimbursement for the full cost of the presurgical immunization shall be made by the commissioner to the participating veterinarian upon the written certification, signed by the veterinarian and the owner of the animal, that the immunization has been administered. There shall be no additional charges to the owners of animals sterilized under RSA 437-A:3[, II] for examination fees or the presurgical immunization.

98:3 Animal Population Control; Rulemaking. Amend RSA 437-A:5, II to read as follows:

II. Proof of eligibility under RSA 437-A:3[, II] I.

98:4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2010.

Approved: June 12, 2009

Effective Date: January 1, 2010