An Act To Address Concerns Reqardinq the Breedinq and Sale of Certain Small Mammals Further amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the summary and inserting in its place the following: • Emergency preamble. Whereas, Acts of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and Whereas, significant health and animal welfare concerns exist regarding the breeding and sale of small mammals as pets; and Whereas, certain breeders and sellers of mammals are not currently regulated at either federal level; and certain small the state or Whereas, children are often in contact with these animals in both home and school settings; and Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Page I-LRI080(2) COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 1228
Committee Amendment CA_A_H448 (House)
Amends: 7 MRSA §3933

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,,/}, to H.P. 902, L.D. 1228, Bill, 
Act To Regulate the Breeding and Sale of Guinea Pigs" 
"An 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting 
the following: 
• An Act To Address Concerns Reqardinq the Breedinq and Sale of 
Certain Small Mammals' 
Further amend the bill by striking out everything after the 
title and before the summary and inserting in its place the 
following: 
• Emergency preamble. Whereas, Acts of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted 
as emergencies; and 
Whereas, significant health 
and 
animal 
welfare 
concerns 
exist regarding the breeding and sale of small mammals as pets; 
and 
Whereas, 
certain breeders 
and 
sellers of 
mammals 
are not currently regulated at either 
federal level; and 
certain 
small 
the state or 
Whereas, children are often in contact with these animals 
in both home and school settings; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts 
create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of 
Page I-LRI080(2) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "If" to H.P. 902, L.D. 1228 
Maine 
and 
require 
the 
following 
legislation 
as 
necessary for the preservation of the public peace, 
safety; now, therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec.i. 7 MRSA §3933, sub-§3 is enacted to read: 
immediately 
health and 
3. 
Records. 
A person maintaining a pet shop, as defined in 
section 3907, shall keep a record of each animal received by the 
pet shop, except for mice and fish. The record must include the 
name and address of the person or company from whom the animal 
was received and the name and address of the person buying or 
otherwise acguiring the animal from the pet shop. 
The record 
must be kept on file for a period of 2 years following the sale 
or other disposition of the animal by the pet shop. 
Sec. 2. Report on and recommendations for regulation of breeders 
and sellers of small mammals. 
The Commissioner of Agriculture, Food 
and Rural Resources shall report to the Joint Standing Committee 
on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry no later than December 
31, 2003 on the need for additional regulation of breeders and 
sellers of small mammals commonly kept as pets. The commissioner 
or the commissioner' s 
designee shall include in the report a 
summary 
of state 
and 
federal 
statutes 
and 
regulations 
that 
currently apply to breeders and sellers of small mammals commonly 
kept as pets, including gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, ferrets, 
rats 
and 
mice. 
The 
commissioner 
shall 
make 
recommendations 
regarding the need for additional authority to regulate the 
breeding and sale of small mammals to address public health and 
consumer protection concerns as well as animal welfare issues. 
The Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and 
Forestry may report out a bill during the Second Regular Session 
of the 121st Legislature to implement recommendations regarding 
the regulation of breeders and sellers of small mammals. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.' 
SUMMARY 
This 
amendment replaces the bill. 
It places in statute 
certain record-keeping requirements that are in rule, except that 
it also requires records to be kept on lagomorphs. It directs the 
Commissioner of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources to report 
to the Joint Standing Committee .on Agriculture, Conservation and 
Forestry 
no 
later than December 
31st 
on 
the 
regulation of 
breeders and sellers of small mammals commonly kept as pets. 
It 
authorizes the committee to report out a bill during the Second 
Regular Session of the 121st Legislature regarding regulation of 
these breeders and sellers. 
FISCAL ~OTE IH.l..!l lin:\) 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Revised: 05/16/03 ~ae 
Office of Fiscal and Program Review 
LD 1228 
An Act To Address Concerns Regarding the Breeding and Sale of Pets 
LR 1080(02) 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment" " 
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
LRI080(2) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1