Bill > S03457

This bill, known as the "Promoting Ethical Testing Solutions (P.E.T.S) Act," establishes a new fund called the "Promoting Ethical Testing Solutions Fund" to support research into alternatives to animal testing for scientific and medical purposes. The fund will be administered by the Empire State Development Corporation and will receive money from state appropriations, interest earnings, and mandatory contributions from laboratories and institutions based on the number of vertebrates they use in research. These contributions range from $5,000 to $50,000 annually, depending on the quantity of animals used, with penalties for non-payment. The fund's monies will be used to award grants and loans for "human-relevant research" (research that directly relates to human biology and health) aimed at developing alternatives to using animals, and to cover administrative costs. Recipients of these grants and loans will be required to enter into agreements with the state regarding the commercialization and intellectual property rights of any resulting discoveries. The bill also mandates that laboratories and institutions disclose their annual vertebrate usage, and the Empire State Development Corporation will report annually on the progress of the funded research. This act will take effect on January 1, 2027.