What are the main differences between the breeder bills introduced?

All breeder bills introduced to date require licensing, inspections and enforcement, and impose penalties for those who do not adhere to the standards set within the bill. Each uses much of the same language from the 2009-2010 breeder bill; however, there are specific provisional and word changes contained within each bill. To read each bill click on the corresponding link below:

The coalition's bill, of which AHS is a member:

• Senate File (S.F.) 462 authored by Senator Barbara Goodwin
• House File (H.F.) 702 authored by Representative John Lesch

Other bills introduced:

• House File (H.F.) 388 authored by Representative Benson
• Senate File (S.F.) 384 authored by Senator Kubly
• House File (H.F. 417) authored by Representative Hayden

NOTE: A local animal group requested that H.F. 388/S.F. 384 be introduced at the Minnesota Legislature. The same group also requested that H.F. 417 be introduced.

S.F. 462/H.F. 702 was requested to be introduced at the Minnesota Legislature by the coalition.

The primary differences are:

Legal authority

• S.F. 462/H.F. 702 delegates the licensing, inspections and enforcement authority to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health. The coalition believes the BAH has the appropriate mission, resources and experience to handle inspections and enforcement.

• H.F. 388/S.F. 384 delegates the licensing, inspections and enforcement authority to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health (BAH).
   
• H.F. 417 delegates the licensing, inspections and enforcement authority to the MN Board of Veterinary Medicine but gives the enforcement and oversight of the one-time registration program to the MN Board of Animal Health. H.F. 417 also places the bill under the public health statutes, rather than the animal welfare statutes.

Commercial breeder definition

• S.F. 462/H.F. 702 contains a lower licensing number — it defines a commercial breeder as a person who possesses 10 or more intact adult animals and produces more than five total litters of puppies or kittens per year. This lower licensing number protects more animals and reflects additional input/feedback received from various stakeholders.

• H.F. 388/S.F. 384 define a commercial breeder as a person who possesses 20 or more adult intact animals and whose animals produce five or more total litters of puppies or kittens per year.
   
• H.F. 417 defines a commercial breeder as a person who possesses 20 or more adult intact animals and produces more than five total litters of puppies or kittens per year.

NOTE: Unfortunately, the vast majority of dog and cat breeders AHS humane agents have investigated and rescued animals from would not be regulated under H.F. 388/S.F. 384 or H.F. 417.

New language improvements
As in previous years, the coalition continued its work on this issue and bill language following the 2009-2010 session. This work resulted in improvements to last year's bill which were incorporated into S.F. 462/H.F. 702, such as a strengthend licensing number, strengthened care standards and strengthened fiscal options as described on the previous page.