The governing body of a local agency, by ordinance, may authorize employees of public animal shelters, societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals, and humane societies, who have qualified as humane officers pursuant to Section 14502, and which societies or animal shelters have contracted with such local agency to provide animal care or protection services, to issue notices to appear in court pursuant to Chapter 5c (commencing with Section 853.5) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code for violations of state or local animal control laws. Those employees shall not be authorized to take any person into custody even if the person to whom the notice is delivered does not give a written promise to appear in court. The authority of these employees is to be limited to the jurisdiction of the local agency authorizing the employees.
(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 7, Sec. 4. (AB 1553) Effective January 1, 2020.)