Senate Bill No. 398

(By Senator Cookman)

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[Introduced January 21, 2014; referred to the Committee on Education; and then to the Committee on Finance.]

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A BILL to amend and reenact §19-20-23 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to providing that a state public school with an animal and veterinary science program may obtain impounded dogs and cats for humane use in furtherance of the school's curriculum and may provide any appropriate attendant care and adoption assistance for the animals.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That §19-20-23 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:

ARTICLE 20. DOGS AND CATS.

§19-20-23. Prohibition of the use of impounded dogs and cats; use for public school animal and veterinary science programs.

    (a) On and after September 1, 1989, any dog or cat impounded under the provisions of this article may not be sold, given, transferred or otherwise made available directly or indirectly to any person, institution, corporation or other entity for use in educational or scientific research or related activities. Disposition of impounded dogs or cats may only be by adoption as pets or humanely destroyed. Any person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $450 nor more than $2,000.

    (b) Notwithstanding any provision in this section, a public school in this state with an animal and veterinary science program may obtain dogs and cats impounded under the provisions of this article for humane use by the students and facility in furtherance of the school's animal and veterinary science curriculum, and may provide any appropriate attendant care and adoption assistance for the animals.

    NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide that a state public school with an animal and veterinary science program may obtain impounded dogs and cats for humane use in furtherance of the school's curriculum, and may provide any appropriate attendant care and adoption assistance for the animals.

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