Substitute House Bill No. 6611 (File No. 160) amends the general statutes concerning dog licensing in the state by introducing the option for electronic licensing through the Department of Agriculture, in addition to the traditional method through the town clerk's office. The bill standardizes the annual license fee to fifteen dollars for all dogs, removing the previous fee difference based on the dog's neutering status, and modifies the allocation of license fees so that twenty-five percent of each fee is deposited into the animal population control account. It also updates the rabies vaccination certificate requirements, the process for transferring licenses to new owners, and the design of the dog license and tag, notably removing the town name from the tag. The bill empowers town clerks and the Commissioner of Agriculture to deputize dog pound employees to issue licenses and tags, and it is set to become effective on June 1, 2024.

The bill also impacts the financial aspects of dog licensing, with a portion of the fees collected being directed to the Commissioner of Agriculture and a separate account being maintained for these fees. It requires the distribution of dog license information to animal control officers and changes the commissioner's regulatory authority from mandatory to discretionary regarding the search for unlicensed dogs. The bill introduces an electronic licensing form and repeals certain sections of the general statutes. The fiscal impact statement predicts revenue gains for the Department of Agriculture's Animal Population Control Account, the General Fund, and municipalities, with costs associated with hiring a processing technician and maintaining the online system. The bill is expected to increase the number of licensed dogs and raises the fee for replacement dog tags, with ongoing fiscal impacts anticipated.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 22-338, 22-339, 22-339a, 22-340, 22-341, 22-347, 22-349
ENV Joint Favorable Substitute: 22-338, 22-339, 22-339a, 22-340, 22-341, 22-347, 22-349
File No. 160: 22-338, 22-339, 22-339a, 22-340, 22-341, 22-347, 22-349