An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Dogs at Large
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 0967
Committee Amendment CA_A_H430 (House)
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Amends: 22 MRSA §1313-B

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 677, L.D. 
Act To Amend the Laws Governing Dogs at Large" 
967, Bill, "An 
Amend 
the bill 
in 
section 
in 
that part 
designated 
"§13ll-A." by striking out all of subsection 2 (page 1, lines 3 3 
to 50 in L.D.) and inserting in its place the following: 
'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 
report that the dog has bitten a person or a domesticated animal. 
If 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 make a determination as to where the dog 
must be kept during the quarantine period established in rules 
adopted pursuant to section 1313. 
The animal control officer may 
place the dog in a licensed boarding kennel, animal shelter or 
veterinary clinic for observation during the quarantine per iod. 
The owner of the dog is responsible for all expenses incurred 
while the animal is under quarantine.' 
Further amend the bill by inserting after section 2 the 
following: 
'Sec. 3. 22 MRSA §1313-B, sub-§l, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 
704, §12, is amended to read: 
1. 
Violation. 
under 
this 
chapter 
A person who violates a rule established 
commits 
a 
civil 
violation 
for 
which 
a 
Page l-LR1349(2) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
to H.P. 677, L.D. 967 
:€eiE'~e:H:\:liE'e fine of not less than $199 $500 nor more than $999 
$1,000 may be adjudged for each offense. 
In addition, the court 
may include an order of restitution as part of the sentencing for 
costs including removing, controlling and confining the animal.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment is the minority report of the Joint Standing 
Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. 
It allows 
an animal control officer to determine the place of quarantine 
for a dog that has bitten a person or domesticated animal. 
It 
increases the fine for failure to abide by quarantine provisions 
and other rules adopted to control rabies. 
FISCAL ~OTE REQl.:1RED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
State Mandate 
Approved: 05/17/05 ~ae 
LD967 
LR 1349(02) 
An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Dogs at Large 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,A" 
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Minority Report 
Fiscal Note 
Current Cost - State Mandate 
Minor revenue increase - General Fund 
New or Expanded Activity 
Unit Affected 
Costs 
Requiring that municipal animal control officers must ascertain the 
Municipality 
Insignificant 
rabies vaccination status of certain dogs represents a state mandate; 
the costs of this process are likely to be relatively insignificant. 
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements: 
Increases General Fund fine revenue by minor amounts. 
LR1349(2) - Fiscal Note - Page I of 1