(a) Any hospital, educational institution or laboratory desiring to obtain a license to use living dogs in medical or biological teaching, research or study shall apply to the Commissioner of Public Health, on forms which said commissioner shall provide, giving its name, address, the nature of the activity for which a license is desired and the location at which such activity is to be conducted. Such application shall be accompanied by a fee of three hundred fifteen dollars. Upon receipt of an application and fee, the Commissioner of Public Health shall cause an investigation to be made of the applicant and shall issue a license upon finding that the applicant (1) has adequate land, buildings, equipment and facilities to engage in the activity described in the application, and (2) agrees to comply with all laws and regulations respecting the housing and care of dogs. Each license shall be in lieu of any license required by sections 22-338, 22-339, 22-342 and 22-344 and shall be issued only for the premises and activity described in the application. No license shall be transferable. Each license shall expire on June thirtieth following the date of issue and shall be renewable annually upon application and payment of a fee of three hundred fifteen dollars.

(b) The Commissioner of Public Health shall suspend or revoke a license for wilful or material failure to comply with the provisions of this section or any law or regulation relating to the acquisition, housing and care of dogs. No such suspension or revocation shall be ordered except upon notice and hearing. Such notice shall be in writing and shall inform the licensee of the substance of the violation charged and that an opportunity for hearing will be provided upon written request filed within ten days after receipt of such notice. The Commissioner of Public Health shall file with each order suspending or revoking a license a finding of fact and statement of his conclusions and serve upon the licensee, by registered or certified mail, a copy of such order, finding and statement. Any person whose application for a license is denied or whose license is revoked or suspended under the provisions of this section may appeal therefrom in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183.

(c) The Commissioner of Public Health shall adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54, establishing humane standards for the proper housing, care, treatment, handling and disposition of dogs used by licensees under this section.

(1963, P.A. 14, S. 2; P.A. 76-436, S. 456, 681; P.A. 77-603, S. 98, 125; 77-614, S. 323, 610; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-11, S. 13, 25; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; 93-435, S. 35, 95; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3, S. 297.)

History: P.A. 76-436 replaced court of common pleas with superior court in Subsec. (b) and added reference to judicial districts, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 77-603 replaced previous appeal provision with statement requiring appeals to be made in accordance with Sec. 4-183; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner and department of health with commissioner and department of health services, effective January 1, 1979; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-11 increased license fee from $50 to $250 and deleted provision in Subsec. (b) requiring regular inspections of licensees by health services department; P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-435 made certain technical and grammatical revisions, effective June 28, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 09-3 amended Subsec. (a) to increase fees from $250 to $315 and to make a technical change.

Cited. 21 CA 629.