August 13, 2008, Introduced by Rep. Calley and referred to the Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security.
A bill to amend 1919 PA 339, entitled
"Dog law of 1919,"
by amending section 6 (MCL 287.266), as amended by 2000 PA 438, and
by adding section 6b.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 6. (1) The owner of a dog that is 4 or more months old
shall apply to the treasurer of the county or, except as provided
in section 14, the treasurer of the township or city where the
owner resides, or to the treasurer's authorized agent, for a
license for each dog owned or kept by him or her.
(2) Unless the county board of commissioners adopts a
resolution under subsection (3), the owner shall apply for a
license annually on or before March 1.
(3) The county board of commissioners of a county may adopt a
resolution during the 60-day period before the beginning of the
county's fiscal year providing when the owner of a dog that is
required to be licensed under subsection (1) must apply for a
license. Before adopting the resolution, the county board of
commissioners shall obtain the county treasurer's written approval
of the resolution. Subject to subsection (4), the resolution shall
provide for 1 of the following:
(a) That the owner apply for a license by March 1 every year
or every third year, at the owner's option.
(b) That the owner apply for a license by June 1 every year.
(c) That the owner apply for a license by June 1 every year or
every third year, at the owner's option.
(d) That the owner apply for a license by the last day of the
month of the dog's current rabies vaccination, every year.
(e) That the owner apply for a license by the last day of the
month of the dog's current rabies vaccination, every third year.
(f) That the owner apply for a license by 1 of the following,
at the owner's option:
(i) The last day of the month of the dog's current rabies
vaccination every year.
(ii) The last day of the month of the dog's current rabies
vaccination, every third year.
(4) A resolution adopted under subsection (3) shall include
necessary provisions for conversion to a new licensing schedule.
The resolution may extend the effective period of outstanding
licenses but shall not shorten the effective period of outstanding
licenses or prorate license fees.
(5) The application shall state the breed, sex, age, color,
and markings of the dog, and the name and address of the last
previous owner. The application for a license shall be accompanied
by a valid certificate of a current vaccination for rabies, with a
vaccine licensed by the United States department of agriculture,
signed by an accredited veterinarian. The certificate for
vaccination for rabies shall state the month and year of expiration
for the rabies vaccination, in the veterinarian's opinion. A
license shall not be issued under subsection (3)(d), (e), or (f) if
the dog's current rabies vaccination will expire more than 1 month
before
the date on which that license would expire. When Except as
otherwise provided by law, when applying for a license, the owner
shall pay the license fee provided for in the county budget. The
county board of commissioners may set license fees in the county
budget at a level sufficient to pay all the county's expenses of
administering this act as it pertains to dogs. For a spayed or
neutered dog, the license fee, if any, shall be set lower than the
license fee for a dog that is not spayed or neutered. In addition,
the license fee may be set higher for a delinquent application than
for a timely application.
(6) If a dog is licensed before it becomes 5 months old and is
subsequently spayed or neutered before it becomes 7 months old, the
owner of the dog may exchange the license for a license for a
spayed or neutered dog and receive a refund for the difference in
the cost of the licenses. The owner shall exchange the license
before the dog becomes 7 months old.
(7) Subsection (6) applies in a county only if the county
board of commissioners adopts a resolution to that effect during
the 60-day period before the beginning of the county's fiscal year.
Before adopting the resolution, the county board of commissioners
shall obtain the county treasurer's written approval of the
resolution.
(8) The owner of a dog that is required to be licensed under
this section shall keep the dog currently vaccinated against rabies
by an accredited veterinarian with a vaccine licensed by the United
States department of agriculture.
Sec. 6b. (1) A qualified disabled veteran is not subject to
any fee for licensing his or her dog, up to a maximum of 2 dogs.
(2) As used in this section:
(a) "Qualified disabled veteran" means a veteran with a
service-connected disability.
(b) "Service-connected disability" means a disability incurred
or aggravated in the line of duty in the active military, naval,
marine, coast guard, or air service as described in 38 USC 101(16).
(c) "Veteran" means a person who served in the active
military, naval, marine, coast guard, or air service and who was
discharged or released from his or her service with an honorable or
general discharge.