Passed

HB 2269 Relating to the confinement and disposition of animals by animal shelters.
Patron - James M. Shuler and W. G. Keister
Authorizes animal shelters to confine and dispose of dogs running at large without the required tag or in violation of a local ordinance, dogs not licensed as required by law, and cats in violation of local ordinances regarding licensure or running at large. Any animal shelter confining or disposing of such animals must be inspected by the State Veterinarian and operated in accordance with regulations issued by the Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services, be open to the public during reasonable business hours, and be located outside of a residential dwelling. The operator of an animal shelter that confines or disposes of such animals must comply with certain reporting requirements.

HB 1765 Confinement and disposition of animals by animal shelters.
Opposed the original version that provided that an animal shelter would not be accessed civil penalties if it had demonstrated good faith in achieving compliance after notification of a violation of any laws governing the care or protection of animals.
Patron - L. Preston Bryant, Jr. The substitute delays the enactment of the civil penalties specified in 3.1-796.96 and 3.1-796.120 until 1/1/2002

HB 2152 Relating to the regulation to prevent the spread of rabies by raccoons.
Patrons - Kristen J. Amundson; David B. Albo; James F. Almand; Richard H. Black; Thomas Bolvin; Robert H. Brink; Vincent F. Callahan, Jr.; Jeannemarie A. Devolites; James H. Dillard, II; Robert D. Hull; Roger J. McClure; Jay O'Brien; Kenneth R. Plum; John H. Rust, Jr.; James M. Scott; Marian Van Landingham; Vivian E. Watts
Provides that any county that has adopted the urban county executive form of government (Fairfax County) may create an oral rabies vaccine distribution program. An ordinance creating the program must provide for notice to affected property owners and contain procedures for a property owner to be excluded from the program. Note: For more information see www.co.fairfax.va.us/service/hd/rabies01.htm.

SB 1339 Deer fences.
Patron - Charles R. Hawkins
Prohibits a landowner from erecting a fence that prevents or impedes deer from leaving the enclosed area. The bill also makes it unlawful to hunt deer in such enclosed areas. The penalty for violating either of these provisions is a Class 1 misdemeanor, and the court may (i)suspend the violator's hunting privileges for a period of three to five years, (ii) order the owner of the property to compensate the Department of Game and Island Fisheries for the replacement costs of the killed deer, and (iii) order the owner to modify the fence in a way that will allow the deer to leave the enclosed area.
The bill also includes a delayed effective date of November 1, 2001.
The substitute grandfathers the 4 existing enclosures provided they modify their fences in a manner approved by the Department of Game to allow the free egress of deer and that they register with the Department of Game each year. The registration is not transferable.

HB 2105 Relating to the importation or breeding of certain dogs in certain counties.
Patrons - S. Steven Landes; William J. Howell; J. Randy Forbes; William C. Mims
Repeals Chapter 167 of the 1938 Acts of Assembly, as amended by Chapter 156 of the 1964 Acts of Assembly, which prohibits the importation or breeding of German or Belgian Shepherds in the counties of Rappahannock and Culpeper without first obtaining a special license for these dogs. This is a recommendation of the Virginia Code Commission as part of its annual review of uncodified Acts of Assembly for obsolete provisions in accordance with 9-77.10:2.

HB 1625 Relating to guide, hearing and service dogs in training.
Patron - Robert Tata
Provides that persons designated as guide, hearing or service dog trainers representing an accredited organization that trains and certifies such dogs shall have the right to be accompanied by dogs at least six months of age with clear, visible designation as guide, hearing or service dogs in training (i.e., wearing a jacket identifying the service dog organization, labeling all common carriers and any public conveyance or mode of transportation, and identifying service dogs in restaurants, hotels, lodging places, places of accommodation, amusement or resort, or other places to which the general public is invited. Such persons shall be liable for any damage done to the premises or facilities by such dog. SB 1043 and

HB 2497 Certificates of veterinary inspection for ornamental aquarium fish or invertebrate animals.
Patrons - Donald L. Williams; P.E. Larrabee
Provides that fish and invertebrate animals are exempt from the requirement of a certificate of veterinary inspection before being imported into Virginia.

HB 2223 and SB 1187 Relating to damaging or destroying agricultural or forestry products, facility or animals; penalty.
Patrons - Malford W. Trumbo; R. Creigh
Deeds Makes it a Class 6 felony if the value of the farm product is $200 or more, or a Class 1 misdemeanor if the value of the farm product is less than $200 to maliciously damage or destroy any agricultural or forestry product, facility or animal that is grown or operated for testing or research purposes in the context of product development in conjunction with a private research facility or a university or any federal, state or local government. Left in Local Government

SB 897 Relating to killing a companion animal; penalty.
Patron - W. Roscoe Reynolds
Provides that it is a Class 6 felony to kill a companion animal. Left in Senate Agriculture Conservation and Natural Resources

HB 2256 Child abuse and neglect; animal control officers.
Original version provided there are funds appropriated for training or adequate time is allocated to receive the training.) Substitute doesn't require reporting but requires training to report suspected cases of child abuse as part of the 15 hours of required continuing education for animal control officers every 3 years.
Patron - Vivian E. Watts
Requires animal control officers, humane investigators, and State Veterinarian's representatives to report suspected child abuse or neglect in the same manner as law-enforcement officers and teachers.
Note: This carries a penalty of $500 for failure to report a suspicion of child abuse or neglect. Stricken at request of patron in House Rules

HJR 628 Establishing a joint subcommittee to examine the problem of litter, trash, and graffiti along public highways.
Patrons - Flora D. Crittenden; William K. Barlow; Viola O. Baskerville; Mary T. Christian; L. Karen Darner; Barnie K. Day; Alan A. Diamonstein; Dwight C. Jones; Jerrauld C. Jones; A. Donald McEachin; Lionell Spruill, Sr.; Vivian E. Watts
Tabled in House Rules

HJR 633 Requests the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to study the total impact of damage done by deer in the Commonwealth, including, but not limited to, damage to crops, private property, automobiles, and aircraft operations, and incidents that result in personal injury.
Patrons - Barnie K. Day; Jackie T. Stump
Passed by Indefinitely in the House

HB 2460 Relating to hunting on Sunday.
Patrons - Clarence E. Phillips
Allows a person to hunt on Sunday between 1:00 pm and sunset.

To obtain bill copies: 804-698-1500 or http://legis.state.va.us/