DOG COLLAR: UNAUTHORIZED REMOVAL                                                 H.B. 5215 (H-2):

                                                                               SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL

                                                                                                         IN COMMITTEE

House Bill 5215 (Substitute H-2 as passed by the House)

Sponsor:  Representative Triston Cole

House Committee:  Natural Resources

Senate Committee:  Judiciary

Date Completed:  10-17-16

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Michigan Penal Code to prohibit an individual other than the owner or the authorized agent of the owner of a dog, or a law enforcement officer or an animal control officer acting in his or her official capacity, from willfully or maliciously removing a collar from that dog.

An individual who violated the bill would be responsible for a State civil infraction and would have to be ordered to pay a civil fine of not less than $1,000 and not more than $2,500. Nothing in the bill could be construed to affect the civil or criminal liability of an individual under any other applicable law of the State.

"Authorized agent" would mean an individual who has the permission of the owner of a dog to remove that dog's collar.

The bill would take effect 30 days after it was enacted.

Proposed MCL 750.70a                                              Legislative Analyst:  Drew Krogulecki

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on State and local government. An increase in civil infractions could place incremental resource demands on law enforcement and courts. Any increase in fine revenue would be statutorily dedicated to public libraries.

                                                                                       Fiscal Analyst:  Ryan Bergan

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.