1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to higher education; regulating the disposition of research dogs and cats;
1.3 	amending Laws 2014, chapter 312, article 13, section 47.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. Laws 2014, chapter 312, article 13, section 47, is amended to read:
1.6 	Sec. 47. RESEARCH DOGS AND CATS.
 1.7 	(a) A higher education research facility that receives public money or a facility that 
1.8 	provides research in collaboration with a higher education facility that confines dogs or 
1.9 	cats for science, education, or research purposes and plans on euthanizing a dog or cat 
1.10 	for other than science, education, or research purposes must first offer the dog or cat 
1.11 	to an animal rescue organization. A facility that is required to offer dogs or cats to an 
1.12 	animal rescue organization under this section may enter into an agreement with the animal 
1.13 	rescue organization to protect the facility. A facility that provides a dog or cat to a rescue 
1.14 	organization under this section is immune from any civil liability that otherwise might 
1.15 	result from its actions, provided that the facility is acting in good faith.
1.16 	(b) For the purposes of this section, "animal rescue organization" means any 
1.17 	nonprofit organization incorporated for the purpose of rescuing animals in need and 
1.18 	finding permanent, adoptive homes for the animals.
1.19 	(c) This section expires July 1, 2015.