Research Facilities and Testing Facilities That Use Animals - Licensing and Regulations

SB 535 requires all Maryland research and testing facilities using animals for research, education, or testing to obtain a license from the Department of Agriculture. It establishes a State Inspector of Animal Welfare to conduct facility inspections, mandates reporting of violations, and requires facilities to take steps to adopt out dogs/cats no longer needed for research. The bill creates the Animals in Research Fund to support these efforts and exempts schools/institutions of higher education from the licensing requirement. Facilities not covered by federal animal welfare laws must pay a licensing fee to cover implementation costs.