Last month, the American Kennel Club (AKC) issued an alert regarding HB 5223, which proposed a change to the legal definition of “grooming facility” to include those doing business in “any vehicle or trailer”. AKC’s concern was that professional handlers exhibiting in the state could be required to obtain a grooming facility license because of the broad wording of the proposed definition.
AKC expressed these concerns when testifying before the Connecticut Joint Environment Committee’s public hearing on Wednesday, February 28, 2024. Afterwards, AKC staff and the President of the Connecticut Federation of Dog Clubs and Responsible Dog Owners (CFDRDO) met with Connecticut’s Department of Agriculture (the Department) to provide details regarding handlers’ primary services of training, conditioning, and exhibiting, with grooming provided as incidental to those services. As a result, the Department concluded that no state grooming facility license would be required in these instances, despite the legislative change. An amended HB 5223 has now been voted favorably by the committee.
Thank you to everyone who viewed our alert and took action. AKC is proud that our collective efforts have resulted in an acceptable outcome with the Department.
AKC Government Relations (AKC GR) will provide additional information during the 2024 Connecticut legislative session as developments warrant. For more information, contact AKC GR at doglaw@akc.org.