128th MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 858 LR 283(03)
An Act To Strengthen the Law Regarding Dangerous Dogs and Nuisance Dogs
Fiscal Note for Bill as Engrossed with:
C "A" (H-706)
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
             
Fiscal Note
State Mandate - Exempted
Minor cost increase - General Fund
Minor revenue increase - General Fund
Minor revenue increase - Other Special Revenue Funds
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements
Establishes new civil violations.
Establishes new Class D crimes.
The collection of additional fines may also increase General Fund revenue by minor amounts.
State Mandates
Required Activity Unit Affected Local Cost
Requires municipalities to keep records of dogs determined by a court to be dangerous or a nuisance.  Requires municipalities to report all complaints of dangerous and nuisance dogs and the outcomes of investigations. Municipality
County
Insignificant statewide
Pursuant to the Mandate Preamble, the two-thirds vote of all members elected to each House exempts the State from the constitutional requirement to fund 90% of the additional costs.
Fiscal Detail and Notes
This bill amends current laws regarding dangerous dogs and animal welfare by updating various definitions, defining municipal authority and responsibilities and creating a dangerous dog licensing program.  Because the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (ACF) already maintains an online dog licensing program, any additional costs as a result of the additional dangerous dog licensing requirements in this bill are anticipated to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.  The dangerous dog licensing requirements will also result in a minor Other Special Revenue Funds revenue increase to the ACF Animal Welfare Fund and to local municipal animal welfare funds.