Section 1200-33-01-.04 - LICENSURE AND RENEWAL(1) Licensure. (a) A person may submit an application to be licensed as a commercial breeder to the commissioner, along with the required application and initial licensing fee.(b) An applicant for licensure shall provide evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that the applicant: 1. Possesses or maintains, under his or her immediate control, twenty (20) or more unsterilized adult female dogs or cats for the purpose of selling the offspring as companion animals;2. Has a valid sales tax registration number and is in good standing with the Tennessee department of revenue;3. Has never been convicted of a violation of T. C. A. § 39-14-212 or convicted of any other criminal offense involving an animal provided in T. C. A. Title 39, Chapter 14, Part 2, for a period of ten (10) years immediately preceding the date of the application; 4. Does not operate or maintain a controlling interest in any releasing agency as defined in T. C. A. § 44-17-702(8); and 5. Has premises for the companion animals that comply with the requirements contained in 9 CFR §3.1 through 3.19 (a copy of which is attached to the regulations as Appendix A and incorporated herein by reference) determined through an inspection conducted by the department.(c) An applicant shall submit to a criminal background check and submit the results of the check to the commissioner as a part of the application for licensure. The applicant shall ensure that all employees working on the premises who have direct contact with the dogs and cats shall submit to a criminal background check.(2) Renewal. (a) A license issued to a commercial breeder pursuant to this chapter shall expire one (1) year from the date of its issuance and shall become invalid on such date unless renewed. Any licensee seeking to renew a license after the license expiration date shall file a new application.(b) A commercial breeder may renew a current, valid license by submitting a renewal form approved by the commissioner, the required renewal fee, and any other information required for renewal, to the commissioner no earlier than one hundred and twenty (120) days nor later than thirty (30) days prior to the expiration date of the license.(c) Any portion of a licensee's renewal submitted by mail to the commissioner shall be deemed to have been submitted on the date of the official postmark on such mail.Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1200-33-01-.04
Emergency rule filed December 22, 2009; effective through June 20, 2010. Emergency rule filed December 22, 2009, expired on June 21, 2010; rule reverted to its original status. Original rule filed April 22, 2010; effective July 21, 2010.Authority: T.C.A. §§ 44-17-704, 44-17-705, 44-17-707, and 44-17-713 [effective January 1, 2010]; and Chapter 591 of the Public Acts of 2009.