HOUSE BILL NO. 691 Offered January 9, 2008 Prefiled January 8, 2008 A BILL to amend and reenact § 3.1-796.104 of the Code of Virginia, relating to animal control officers. ---------- Patron-- Armstrong ---------- Committee Referral Pending ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That § 3.1-796.104 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 3.1-796.104. Animal control officers; powers and duties.

The governing body of each county or city shall, or each town may, appoint an officer to be known as the animal control officer who shall have the power to enforce this chapter, all ordinances enacted pursuant to this chapter and all laws for the protection of domestic animals. The governing body may also appoint one or more deputy animal control officers to assist the animal control officer in the performance of his duties. Animal control officers and deputy animal control officers shall have a knowledge of the animal control and protection laws of Virginia which they are required to enforce. The animal control officer shall make quarterly inspections of any premises in his jurisdiction where dealers breed companion animals. The animal control officer shall ensure that dealers comply with state and federal standards for sanitation, licensure, and adequate care. When in uniform or upon displaying a badge or other credentials of office, animal control officers and deputy animal control officers shall have the power to issue a summons or obtain a felony warrant as necessary, providing the execution of such warrant shall be carried out by any law-enforcement officer as defined in § 9.1-101, to any person found in the act of violating any such law or any ordinance enacted pursuant to such law of the locality in which the animal control officer or deputy animal control officer is appointed. The animal control officer and the deputy animal control officers shall be paid as the governing body of each locality shall prescribe.

Any locality in which an animal control officer or deputy animal control officers have been appointed may contract with one or more additional localities for enforcement of animal protection and control laws by the animal control officers or deputy animal control officers. Any such contract may provide that the locality employing the animal control officer or deputy animal control officers shall be reimbursed a portion of the salary and expenses of the animal control officer or deputy animal control officers.

Every locality employing an animal control officer shall submit to the State Veterinarian, on a form provided by him, information concerning the employment and training status of the animal control officers employed by the locality. The State Veterinarian may require that the locality notify him of any change in such information.