WEST virginia legislature

2019 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 2986

By Delegates Queen and Kessinger

[ Introduced February 11, 2019; Referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary.]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §19-20-2a, relating to requiring retail pet stores to complete registration forms required by the county assessor upon the sale of a dog; and prohibiting political subdivisions from regulating the operation of a retail pet store.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 20. DOGS AND CATS.

§19-20-2a. Retail pet store registration form requirement; prohibited areas of regulation.

It shall be the duty of retailers selling dogs subject to assessment under this article, at the time they are making sale of said personal property, to complete on the forms prescribed under section four of this article, take down the age, sex, color, character of hair (long or short) and breed (if known) and the name and address of the owner, keeper or harborer thereof if the purchaser is a resident of such county: Provided, That a political subdivision may not adopt, enforce, administer an ordinance, regulation, local policy, local resolution or other legal requirement that prohibits the operation of a retail pet store.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require retail pet stores to complete registration forms required by the county assessor upon the sale of a dog, The bill prohibits political subdivisions from enacting any ordinance, regulation, local policy, local resolution or other legal requirements regulating the operation of a retail pet store.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.