Daily bulletin [2009 : February 2, v.2009 : no.3]

Daily Bulletin ACTIONS BY THE NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY School of Government The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Legislative Reporting Service, Box 7294 State Legislative Building, Raleigh, NC 27601 Phone 919.733.2484 - Fax 919.715.3464 - www.dbulletin.org House Legislative Day 3 Vol. 2009, No. 3 Senate Legislative Day 3 Monday February 2, 2009 SUMMARIES OF BILLS FILED HOUSE BILLS H 27. REGULATE EUTHANASIA OF ANIMALS. Filed 2/2/09. TO REGULATE THE EUTHANASIA OF ANIMALS AND TO PROHIBIT SPECIFIED METHODS OF EUTHANASIA OF ANIMALS. Enacts a new GS 19A-26.1 , which applies to the euthanizing or putting to death of animals (1) in possession or custody of an animal shelter; (2) in possession or custody of a person providing foster care at the request of an animal shelter, which previously possessed the animal; and (3) removed from an animal shelter or foster care for the purpose of being euthanized or put to death. Prohibits the following methods of euthanasia for animals under the section: (1) intracardial injection or heartstick; (2) use of succinycholine chloride, curare, curariform mixtures, or any neuromuscular blocking agent; (3) electrocution; (4) blow to the head by metal bolt or other instrument; (5) drowning; and (6) use of a firearm (except in cases of emergency in which an animal presents an immediate danger to a human or other animal). Provides that livestock may be put to death by an approved method under the federal Humane Slaughter Act. Effective January 1, 201 1, enacts two new subsections in GS 19A-26.1 to do the following: (1) require that euthanasia of dogs, cats, including feral cats, or other companion animals be limited to a lethal injection of sodium pentobarbital, or its derivative, or other pharmaceutical approved for euthanasia by injection by the American Veterinary Medical Association or the Humane Society of the US, using a procedure that results in rapid consciousness and death, with anaesthetization prior to, or concurrently with the receipt of the lethal injection and (2) allow the use of carbon monoxide gas when wild animals are put to death if the operator of an animal shelter determines euthanasia by lethal injection would risk harm to a human or other animal, with the clarification that this subsection does not apply to wild animals that have been domesticated and treated as pets. Also effective January 1, 201 1, adds the use of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, or other gas to the list of prohibited methods of euthanasia. Makes conforming changes. Amends GS 19A-24 to modify the rules to be adopted by the Board of Agriculture regulating euthanasia of animals. Adds that the rules apply to the euthanasia of animals in the possession, custody, or control of any person required to obtain a certificate of registration under GS 19A-26 (was, this Article). Provides that the rules promulgated under the current statutory guidelines must be consistent with methods approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Humane Society of the US, or the American Humane Association and are effective until January 1 , 201 1 . After that date, the rules must be consistent with the restrictions on euthanasia contained in GS 19A-26.1 and address the anaesthetization of animals prior to, or concurrently with, euthanasia by injection. Makes a clarifying change that the rules require that when the gas method of euthanasia is used (was, if approved), only commercially compressed manufactured carbon monoxide gas is approved for use. Repeals GS 19A-23(9), which defines euthanasia as the humane destruction of an animal accomplished by a method that involves rapid unconsciousness and immediate death or by a method that involves anesthesia, produced by an agent which causes painless loss of consciousness, and death during such loss of consciousness. © 2009 School of Government The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hi II This work is copyrighted and subject to "fair use" as permitted by federal copyright law. No portion of this publication maybe reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the express written permission of the publisher. Distribution by third parties is prohibited. Prohibited distribution includes, but is not limited to, posting, e-mailing, faxing, archiving in a public database, installing on intranets or servers, and redistributing via a computer network or in printed form. Unauthorized use or reproduction may result in legal action against the unauthorized user.