Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §3906-B, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1997, c. 690, §2, is further amended to read:

4. Training and certification of animal control officers and humane law enforcement officers. The commissioner shall develop a program to train animal control officers and humane law enforcement officers. This program must include training in investigation of complaints of cruelty to animals, training in response to calls concerning animals suspected of having rabies and training in enforcement of dog licensing laws and rabies immunization laws. The commissioner shall certify all animal control officers and humane law enforcement officers who complete the training program.

Sec. 2. 7 MRSA §3906-B, sub-§4-A is enacted to read:

4-A.__Humane law enforcement officer; additional training.__ In addition to the training and certification requirements found in subsection 4, a humane law enforcement officer must also successfully complete the preservice law enforcement training requirements in Title 25, section 2804-B and the in- service law enforcement training requirements in Title 25, section 2804-E in order to have the power to make arrests or to carry a firearm.__A humane law enforcement officer is exempt from Title 25, section 2804-C.

Sec. 3. 7 MRSA §3907, sub-§15-B is enacted to read:

15-B.__Humane law enforcement officer.__"Humane law enforcement officer" means a person meeting the training requirements of section 3906-B, subsection 4-A appointed periodically by a municipality pursuant to chapter 725.

Sec. 4. 7 MRSA §3947, as amended by PL 1997, c. 690, §28, is further amended to read:

§3947. Animal control officers and humane law enforcement officers

Each municipality shall appoint one or more animal control officers or humane law enforcement officers whose duties are enforcement of sections 3911, 3912, 3916, 3921, 3924, 3943, 3948, 3950, 3950-A, 3952 and 4041 and Title 17, section 1023 responding to reports of animals suspected of having rabies in accordance with Title 22, sections 1313 and 1313-A all applicable animal welfare laws and such other duties to control animals as the municipality may require.