DELETE REQ. TO KILL UNLICENSED DOGS                                               H.B. 4168 (H-1):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 4168 (Substitute H-1 as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Representative Margaret O'Brien

House Committee:  Local Government

Senate Committee:  Local Government and Elections

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Dog Law to delete requirements that county sheriffs locate and kill unlicensed dogs, and that county treasurers deliver a list of unlicensed dogs to the Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD).

The Dog Law requires a county sheriff to locate and kill, or cause to be killed, all unlicensed dogs identified by the county treasurer.  Failure, refusal, or neglect to do so constitutes nonfeasance in office.  The bill would delete those provisions.

The Dog Law allows a county treasurer to identify and locate all unlicensed dogs, and specifies that an unlicensed dog is a public nuisance.  The treasurer must immediately list all unlicensed dogs identified under this provision and deliver copies of the list to the prosecuting attorney, who must begin proceedings against the owner of an unlicensed dog, and to the MDARD Director.  The bill would eliminate the requirement that the treasurer deliver the list to the Director.

MCL 287.277                                                           Legislative Analyst:  Patrick Affholter

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no practical fiscal impact upon State or local government, as the provisions that would be deleted are currently unenforced.

Date Completed:  2-13-14                                                     Fiscal Analyst:  Bruce Baker

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.