SR 255: Senate Study Committee on Combating Unscrupulous Companion Animal Breeding Practices; create

Senate Resolution 255

By: Senators Summers of the 13th, Robertson of the 29th, Gooch of the 51st, Kennedy of the 18th, Walker III of the 20th and others

ADOPTED SENATE

A RESOLUTION

Creating the Senate Study Committee on Combating Unscrupulous Companion Animal Breeding Practices; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, unscrupulous companion animal breeding may include puppy mills in commercial breeding facilities and backyard breeding operations; and

WHEREAS, unscrupulous companion animal breeding is the practice of breeding animals for financial gain without regard for the animal's health or well-being; and

WHEREAS, unscrupulous companion animal breeding negatively impacts taxpayers who often bear the burden of cleanup costs when breeding operations are busted and causes financial strain on existing animal shelters and rescue organizations; and

WHEREAS, stray and feral animal populations can pose a public safety threat to humans with increases in dog bites or attacks, pack behavior in stray dogs, and damage to property and livestock, and they are more likely to be involved in traffic accidents; and

WHEREAS, unscrupulous companion animal breeding contributes to an increase in unowned and stray animals and can lead to disease and infection outbreaks among stray and feral animal populations and poses a threat to local ecosystems; and

WHEREAS, despite state and local laws regulating animal breeding, enforcement remains inconsistent and additional education and research on best practices are needed; and

WHEREAS, unscrupulous companion animal breeders may not comply with appropriate licensing or permitting requirements; and

WHEREAS, companion animals raised by these breeders often suffer from inhumane living conditions, physical and mental health conditions, and lack of socialization and are often victims of illegal puppy trading; and

WHEREAS, companion animals raised by these breeders are more likely to experience animal suffering and euthanasia; and

WHEREAS, unscrupulous companion animal breeding can foster behavioral problems in companion animals, which can lead to companion animal abandonment and abuse; and

WHEREAS, unscrupulous companion animal breeding can negatively impact neighborhood communities and often burden local authorities; and

WHEREAS, a study committee is needed to establish informed recommendations on reducing or preventing unscrupulous companion animal breeding to ensure humane treatment of animals in breeding practices in this state.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE:

(1) Creation of Senate study committee. There is created the Senate Study Committee on Combating Unscrupulous Companion Animal Breeding Practices.

(2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of five members of the Senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate. The President shall designate a legislative member of the committee as chairperson of the committee.

(3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.

(4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.

(5) Allowances and funding. The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds appropriated to the Senate.

(6) Report.

(A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.

(B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.

(C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee. A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with the Secretary of the Senate.

(D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Secretary of the Senate a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof.

(7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025.