(a) A public postsecondary educational institution or independent institution of higher education, or employee or student thereof, that confines dogs or cats for the purposes set forth in Section 1650 of the Health and Safety Code, if the institution assesses the health of an animal and determines, after the completion of any testing or research, that the animal is suitable for adoption, the animal’s destruction is not required, and the animal is no longer needed, and if the institution’s existing procedures for adopting the animal do not result in an adoption, shall offer the dogs or cats to an animal adoption organization or animal rescue organization for adoption prior to euthanizing those animals. A public postsecondary educational institution or independent institution of higher education that is required to offer dogs or cats to an animal adoption organization or animal rescue organization under this section may enter into an agreement with an animal adoption organization or animal rescue organization for the implementation of this section.

(b) For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:

(1) “Animal adoption organization” or “animal rescue organization” means a not-for-profit entity that is exempt from taxation pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code established for purposes of rescuing animals in need and finding permanent, adoptive homes for those animals and that maintain records pursuant to Section 32003 of the Food and Agriculture Code.

(2) “Independent institution of higher education” means a nonpublic educational institution as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66010.

(3) “Public postsecondary educational institution” means any campus of the University of California, the California State University, or the California Community Colleges.

(c) This section does not apply to animals within the meaning of Section 17006 of the Food and Agricultural Code.

(Added by Stats. 2015, Ch. 551, Sec. 1. (AB 147) Effective January 1, 2016.)