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GA HB886
Bill
Status
Engrossed
3/12/2020
Primary Sponsor
Andrew Welch
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AI Summary
- Requires the State Board of Veterinary Medicine to establish and maintain an online database by July 1, 2021, enabling Georgia pet owners to register microchipped pets so ownership information can be searched by veterinarians, law enforcement, and animal control officers
- Mandates licensed veterinarians to scan every pet for a microchip on its first visit to a veterinary facility and, if a chip is found, check the database to verify the person presenting the pet is the registered owner
- Requires veterinarians to report to local law enforcement or animal control within 24 hours after concluding treatment if the database indicates the person presenting the pet is not the rightful owner
- Veterinarians who fail to scan, check the database, or make required reports face mandatory training on microchip scanning procedures and potential additional board discipline
- Grants civil and criminal immunity to any person who makes a good-faith report or participates in related proceedings, and exempts database information from open records disclosure; does not require pet owners to register or veterinarians to purchase microchip readers
Legislative Description
Animals; veterinarians or veterinary technicians that provide treatment to animals to scan such animals' microchips and to report ownership information under certain circumstances; require
Last Action
Senate Read and Referred
3/13/2020
Full Bill Text
No bill text available