SB438 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tammy Irons

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Animals, animal shelters, animal control, animal shelter owner or operator to submit annual report detailing number of animals entering facility and the disposition of the animals

Summary

SB438 would require animal shelters to file an annual public health report detailing animal intake and what happened to each animal.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill would require animal shelter operators to submit a yearly report to the Department of Public Health with totals of animals entering the facility and their disposition (adopted, claimed by owner, transferred to another facility or rescue, euthanized or died, sold to researchers, and sterilization status on arrival and after arrival). The Department would provide a standard reporting form, collect the data statewide and by county, keep records for at least five years, and make the reports public. The department may charge reasonable fees to cover the cost of collecting and processing the reports, and for copies requested by the public. It also creates a Class A misdemeanor for failing to file or for submitting false reports and specifies the act’s effective date, while noting an exemption from certain local-funding requirements under Amendment 621.

Who It Affects

• Animal shelters and operators who must file the annual report detailing intake and disposition.
• The Alabama Department of Public Health and the general public, who will collect, maintain, and have access to the compiled data.

Key Provisions

• Provision 1: Annual reporting requirement — shelter operators must submit to the Department of Public Health a yearly count of animals by species and their disposition (adopted, claimed, transferred to other facilities or rescues, euthanized or died, sold to researchers, sterilization status on arrival and after arrival).
• Provision 2: Data handling, access, enforcement, and effective date — the Department provides a standard form, may charge fees, compiles data statewide and by county for at least five years, makes reports public, enforces compliance with a Class A misdemeanor for non-reporting or false reports, and the act becomes effective after the governor signs and the specified waiting period.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Animals