Requires higher education research facilities to make available certain information regarding the adoption of dogs or cats on their website.
Summary
This bill amends the Education Law to require certain higher education research facilities that must offer dogs or cats for adoption to post adoption-related information on their websites. Specifically, the bill allows these facilities to contract with qualifying animal rescue, shelter, humane, SPCA, or animal protective organizations that operate physical sheltering facilities and have established adoption programs, including those exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The bill also requires each covered facility to publish an adoption policy describing the steps it takes to place animals deemed suitable for adoption. Beginning January 1, 2026, the facility must also post an annual report covering the prior year, including the number of dogs and cats released for private placement, the number released to qualifying adoption organizations, and the names of those organizations. The act would take effect 60 days after becoming law.
Impact
The bill would add new transparency and reporting obligations to Education Law section 239-b for higher education research facilities that are already subject to animal adoption requirements. It would not create a new adoption mandate, but would require covered facilities to maintain and publicly disclose adoption policies and annual adoption data on their websites, affecting research institutions that use dogs or cats in their programs and the animal welfare organizations that receive those animals.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text and caption, the measure appears to be framed as a transparency and animal welfare bill, with a likely neutral-to-supportive policy posture centered on public disclosure of adoption practices and outcomes.
Contention
The main potential point of contention is the added administrative and reporting burden on higher education research facilities, which would need to track and publish adoption data annually and maintain website disclosures. Another possible issue is the scope of qualifying recipient organizations, since the bill specifies particular types of shelters and rescue groups and requires them to meet certain operational and tax-exempt criteria. No specific objections or supporters are identified in the available record.
Pet Safety and Protection Act of 2023 This bill revises requirements concerning the sources of dogs and cats used by research facilities. Specifically, the bill revises the list of permissible sources of dogs and cats used by research facilities to include dogs and cats obtained (1) from a licensed dealer, (2) from a publicly owned and operated pound or shelter that meets specified requirements, (3) by donation from a person who bred and raised the dog or cat or owned it for not less than one year, or (4) from a research facility licensed by the Department of Agriculture. The requirements pertaining to sources apply to dogs and cats obtained through sales, donations, or offers. Monetary penalties are established for violations.