<section article="gag" article_name="Agriculture" number="15-101" title_number="15" title_name="Research Facilities That Use Dogs or Cats" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>“Alternative test method” means a test method, including a new or revised method, that:</text> <level label="i"> <text>Does not use live vertebrate animals;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>Produces information of equivalent or better scientific quality and relevance compared to traditional animal test methods; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>Has been identified and accepted for use by the federal agency or program within the federal agency responsible for regulating the specific product or activity for which the test is being conducted.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>“Alternative test method” includes:</text> <level label="i"> <text>Computational toxicology and bioinformatics;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>High–throughput screening methods;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>Testing categories of chemical substances;</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>Tiered testing methods;</text> </level> <level label="v"> <text>In vitro studies; and</text> </level> <level label="vi"> <text>Systems biology.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>“Chemical substance” means any organic or inorganic substance including:</text> <level label="1"> <text>A pesticide, as defined in 7 U.S.C. § 136(u);</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A chemical substance, as defined in 15 U.S.C. § 2602(2); and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>A food additive, as defined in 21 U.S.C. § 321(s).</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <level label="1"> <text>“Medical research” means research related to:</text> <level label="i"> <text>The causes, diagnosis, treatment, control, or prevention of physical or mental diseases or impairment in humans or animals; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>The development of biomedical products, medical devices, or drugs as defined in 21 U.S.C. § 321(g).</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>“Medical research” does not include the testing of an ingredient that was formerly used as a drug and that is now proposed for use in a product other than a biomedical product, medical device, or drug.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <level label="1"> <text>“Research facility” means any facility in the State that uses live vertebrate animals for research, education, or experimentation.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>“Research facility” does not include a partnership, a corporation, an association, an institution, an organization, or any other entity in the State that provides only beneficial services to an animal such as spaying and neutering.</text> </level> </level> <level label="f"> <level label="1"> <text>“Testing facility” means a public or private partnership, corporation, association, organization, or any other entity in the State that uses live vertebrate animals for the testing of:</text> <level label="i"> <text>Chemical substances;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>Ingredients;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>Products; or</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>Product formulations.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>“Testing facility” includes a partnership, a corporation, an association, an organization, or any other entity in the State that is owned, leased, or operated by a public or private entity.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>“Testing facility” does not include:</text> <level label="i"> <text>A partnership, a corporation, an association, an institution, an organization, or any other entity in the State that provides only beneficial services to an animal such as spaying and neutering; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>A school or an institution of higher education.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="g"> <text>“Traditional animal test method” means a process, an experiment, or a procedure that:</text> <level label="1"> <text>Uses live vertebrate animals to obtain information on the characteristics of a chemical substance, an ingredient, a product formulation, or a product; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Generates information regarding the ability of the chemical substance, ingredient, product formulation, or product to produce a specific biological effect under specified conditions.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gag" article_name="Agriculture" number="15-102" title_number="15" title_name="Research Facilities That Use Dogs or Cats" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>A research facility or testing facility may not use a dog or cat that has undergone a devocalization surgery for research or testing purposes.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A research facility or testing facility may not perform a devocalization surgery on a dog or cat.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>A dog or cat at a research facility or testing facility may be euthanized only in accordance with the most current American Veterinary Medical Association Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals:</text> <level label="1"> <text>By a veterinarian licensed in the State; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Under the direct or indirect supervision of a licensed veterinarian.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gag" article_name="Agriculture" number="15-103" title_number="15" title_name="Research Facilities That Use Dogs or Cats" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>This section does not apply to medical research.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, a testing facility may not use a traditional animal test method if the agency responsible for regulating the specific product or activity for which a test method is being used has:</text> <level label="i"> <text>Approved an alternative test method; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>Made available to or granted the testing facility a waiver from using a traditional animal test method.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>If there is no alternative test method available or waiver made available or granted, a testing facility may use a traditional animal test method if the testing facility uses the fewest number of animals possible and minimizes the level of pain, suffering, and stress of an animal used for testing.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Nothing in this subsection may be construed to prohibit:</text> <level label="i"> <text>The use of a traditional animal test method to comply with federal or State requirements if the appropriate federal or State agency has approved the use of an alternative test method but determined that the alternative test method does not ensure the health or safety of the public or the environment; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>The continued use of a traditional animal test method that:</text> <level label="1"> <text>Was initiated:</text> </level> <level label="A"> <text>Before October 1, 2026; or</text> </level> <level label="B"> <text>Within 180 days after October 1, 2026, following agency approval of an alternative test method or strategy; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Is used only to complete the test for which it was started.</text> </level> </level> </level> </level> </section> <section article="gag" article_name="Agriculture" number="15-104" title_number="15" title_name="Research Facilities That Use Dogs or Cats" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>“Animal rescue organization” includes:</text> <level label="i"> <text>A nonprofit organization incorporated for the purpose of rescuing animals in need and finding permanent adoptive homes for the animals; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>A government–operated animal control unit that provides animals for adoption.</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>“Scientific research purposes” includes:</text> <level label="i"> <text>Investigation;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>Experimentation;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>Instruction; and</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>Testing.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>This section applies to a dog or cat that, in the determination of an attending veterinarian, is suitable for adoption.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>A research facility or testing facility located in the State in which dogs or cats are used for scientific research purposes shall take reasonable steps to provide for the adoption of a dog or cat that, in the determination of the research facility or testing facility, is no longer needed for scientific research purposes by:</text> <level label="1"> <text>Establishing a private placement process to provide for the adoption of a dog or cat;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Establishing a list of animal rescue organizations that are approved by the research facility or testing facility and are willing to take a dog or cat from the research facility or testing facility; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Offering the dog or cat to the animal rescue organizations identified in the list established under item (2) of this subsection if the research facility or testing facility is unable to place the dog or cat through its private placement process.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>A research facility or testing facility may enter into a collaborative agreement with an animal rescue organization for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this section.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gag" article_name="Agriculture" number="15-105" title_number="15" title_name="Research Facilities That Use Dogs or Cats" subtitle_number="1"> <level label="a"> <text>On or before December 1, 2028, and each December 1 thereafter, each testing facility shall submit to the Secretary the following information regarding the immediately preceding fiscal year:</text> <level label="1"> <text>The number of each species of animals owned and used by the testing facility;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The number of dogs or cats released to animal rescue organizations under § 15–104 of this title and the names of the animal rescue organizations to which the dogs or cats were released;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>The type and number of alternative test methods and traditional animal test methods used;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>The number of traditional animal test method waivers used; and</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>The purpose of any tests conducted using alternative test methods or traditional animal test methods.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>On or before December 1, 2028, and each December 1 thereafter, each research facility using or keeping dogs or cats shall submit to the Secretary, for the immediately preceding fiscal year, the number of dogs or cats released to animal rescue organizations under § 15–104 of this title and the names of the animal rescue organizations to which the dogs or cats were released.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The Secretary shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>Prepare an annual report aggregating the information submitted under this section in an anonymized manner; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Post the annual report on the Department’s website.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>A report made to the Secretary under this section is not subject to disclosure under the Maryland Public Information Act.</text> </level> </section> <section article="gag" article_name="Agriculture" number="15-106" title_number="15" title_name="Research Facilities That Use Dogs or Cats" subtitle_number="1"> <text>A research facility or testing facility that violates this title is subject to:</text> <level label="1"> <text>For a first offense, a fine not exceeding $1,000; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>For a second or subsequent offense, a fine not exceeding $5,000.</text> </level> </section>