SB 411

Abstract

Task Force on Transparency in Publicly Funded Animal Testing Facilities; report. Requires the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to convene a Task Force on Transparency in Publicly Funded Animal Testing Facilities, consisting of legislators and stakeholders, for the purpose of identifying potential deficiencies in publicly funded animal testing facilities in the Commonwealth and recommending methods and context for making certain information about such animal testing facilities publicly available. The bill requires the Task Force to report its findings to certain committees of the General Assembly no later than November 1, 2024. This bill is identical to HB 580.

Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; Task Force on Transparency in Publicly Funded Animal Testing Facilities; report. Requires the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, in collaboration with the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, to convene a Task Force on Transparency in Publicly Funded Animal Testing Facilities for the purpose of identifying potential deficiencies in publicly funded animal testing facilities in the Commonwealth and recommending methods and context for making certain information about such animal testing facilities publicly available. The bill provides that the Task Force shall consist of legislators and certain enumerated stakeholders and shall report its findings to the House Committees on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources, Finance, and Appropriations and the Senate Committees on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and Finance and Appropriations no later than November 1, 2024.

Animal testing facilities; public notification. Requires any animal testing facility, contract testing facility,or manufacturer that uses an animal test method to annually makepublicly available certain information relating to animal testingby displaying a link to access such information on the home pageor landing page of any such facility's or manufacturer's website.The bill also provides that when documents generated from internalreviews pertain to violations of federal animal welfare regulationsand guidelines and are the subject of a request for information pursuantto the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, an animal testing facility shall not charge more than $25 to produce such documents.