The bill amends the existing law regarding the licensing and regulation of dealers and research facilities that handle dogs and cats for laboratory research purposes. It specifically modifies Section 11a to require research facilities to submit an annual report to the department by March 31 each year. This report must include detailed information about the total number of laboratory animals owned, the number used for research, and the number released by the facility, replacing the previous requirement for an attestation of compliance.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that the department will use the information from these reports to assess compliance with existing regulations but will not make any of the reported information publicly available on its website. This change aims to enhance transparency and accountability in the treatment of laboratory animals while protecting sensitive data from public disclosure.

Statutes affected:
Senate Introduced Bill: 287.391