HB 250 - AS INTRODUCED

2021 SESSION

21-0297

08/10

HOUSE BILL 250

SPONSORS: Rep. Pearl, Merr. 26; Rep. Abramson, Rock. 37; Rep. Lang, Belk. 4; Rep. Kennedy, Merr. 7; Rep. G. Griffin, Hills. 5; Rep. Moffett, Merr. 9

COMMITTEE: Environment and Agriculture

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ANALYSIS

This bill sets the limit of dogs, cats, and ferrets that may be transfered without a pet vendor license. This bill also creates an exemption from the requirement to obtain a pet vendor license for certain breeders of dogs and cats.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

21-0297

08/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty One

AN ACT relative to pet vendors.

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

1 Pet Vendor; Definition. Amend RSA 437:1, IV to read as follows:

IV. "Pet vendor" means any person, firm, corporation, or other entity that transfers [25] 35 or more dogs, [25] 50 or more cats, 30 or more ferrets, or 50 or more birds, live animals or birds customarily used as household pets to the public, with or without a fee or donation required, and whether or not a physical facility is owned by the licensee in New Hampshire, when transfer to the final owner occurs within New Hampshire, between [July 1 and June 30] January 1 and December 31 of each year. Pet vendor also means any person, firm, corporation, or other entity that transfers amphibians, reptiles, fish, or small mammals customarily used as household pets to the public in quantities set in rules adopted by the department, with or without a fee or donation required, and whether or not a physical facility is owned by the licensee in New Hampshire between [July 1 and June 30] January 1 and December 31 of each year. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to alter or affect the municipal zoning regulations that a pet vendor shall conform with under RSA 437:3.

2 Exemptions; Commercial Kennel Deleted. Amend RSA 437:7 to read as follows:

437:7 Exceptions.

I. The license provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to breeders of dogs or cats that do not meet the definition of pet vendor in RSA 437:1, veterinarians, or the transfer of livestock or poultry.

II.(a) A person who has previously not met the requirements for licensure as a pet vendor but who intends to transfer more than 35 dogs or 50 cats in a year may apply to the commissioner for an exemption from licensure as a pet vendor if he or she meets the following criteria:

(1) The person has transferred fewer than 35 dogs or 50 cats annually in the previous 2 12-month periods beginning January 1 and running through the following December 31; and

(2) The person has not been required to register as a pet vendor in the previous 2 12-month periods beginning January 1 and running through the following December 31.

(b) The commissioner shall make a determination on such exemption within 15 days of its submission. Such exemption shall expire on the December 31 following its issuance.

(c) A person exempt from licensure as a pet vendor under this paragraph may transfer no more than 15 dogs or 15 cats in addition to the 35 dog or 50 cat limit in subparagraph (a) within the period his or her exemption is valid.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.