Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §3947, first ¶, as amended by PL 1997, c. 690, §28, is further amended to read:

Each municipality shall appoint one or more animal control 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 1311-A, 1313 and 1313-A and such other duties to control animals as the municipality may require.

Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §1311-A is enacted to read:

§1311-A.__Mandatory quarantine for certain dogs

1.__Definitions.__As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

A. "Animal control officer"__means a person appointed by a municipality in accordance with Title 7, section 3947.

B. "Valid certificate of rabies vaccination" means a certificate signed and dated by a veterinarian upon administering a rabies vaccination and verifying that the dog was vaccinated at least 30 days prior to a bite or an assault and that the recommended duration for the vaccine received had not been exceeded at the time of the bite or assault.

2. Quarantine for dogs without proof of rabies vaccination.__ An animal control officer shall ascertain the status of a dog's vaccination against rabies upon receiving:

A.__A report that the dog has bitten a person or a domesticated animal; or

B.__A complaint in accordance with Title 7, section 3952, subsection 1 that the dog is a dangerous dog.

When an owner or keeper does not provide a__valid certificate of rabies vaccination for a dog within 24 hours of a request for such certification by an animal control officer, the animal control officer shall place the dog in a licensed boarding kennel or veterinary clinic for observation during a quarantine period established in rules adopted pursuant to section 1313. The owner of the dog is responsible for all expenses incurred while the animal is under quarantine.