Animals: animal shelters: transparency.

Assembly Member Lee's animal shelter transparency legislation would require California's public and private animal shelters to collect, record and publicly share detailed quarterly data about their operations. The bill mandates that shelters track the number of animals received by species category, document intake sources such as strays and owner surrenders, and report outcomes including adoptions, transfers, and euthanasia.

Animal shelters with websites must post this information online and maintain public access to the data for at least five years. Facilities without websites must make the records available upon request for the same duration. The bill also encourages, but does not require, rescue groups to follow these reporting practices and recommends that organizations with local animal care contracts provide the data in downloadable spreadsheet formats.

The measure's findings note that accurate public reporting enables evaluation of existing policies and evidence-based decision making regarding animal welfare. While the new requirements may constitute a state-mandated local program for public shelters, the bill includes provisions for state reimbursement of associated costs if determined necessary by the Commission on State Mandates.