Existing law authorizes a board of county commissioners and city council to exercise certain powers relating to the control of animals. (NRS 244.359, 266.325)
Sections 1 and 2 of this bill require the governing body of a county or incorporated city, respectively, that owns and operates an animal shelter to establish a program to waive the adoption fee of certain pets adopted by a person who is a veteran, law enforcement officer or first responder. Sections 1 and 2 also require the governing body of a county or incorporated city that does not own or operate an animal shelter, as a condition of any appropriation or contract or other legal agreement with a nonprofit organization that operates an animal shelter in the county or city, as applicable, to require the nonprofit organization to establish a program to waive the adoption fee of certain pets adopted by a person who is a veteran, law enforcement officer or first responder.
Sections 1 and 2 require that these programs: (1) waive the adoption fee for not more than one eligible pet from the animal shelter for a period of 6 months for each veteran, law enforcement officer or first responder who adopts a pet; (2) require such a veteran, law enforcement officer or first responder to provide a valid form of identification; (3) require the animal shelter to report to the governing body of the county or city, as applicable, certain information concerning the program; and (4) require the animal shelter to maintain records of each adoption made under the program. On or before October 1 of each year, the governing body of the county or city is required to submit a report to the Department of Veterans Services containing certain information concerning the program. Section 4 of this bill requires the governing body of the county or incorporated city to submit the first report required by section 1 or 2, as applicable, on or before October 1, 2026.
Section 3 of this bill requires the Department to submit a report to the Legislature on or before December 31 of each even-numbered year that compiles the information from the reports the Department received pursuant to sections 1 and 2.