SPONSOR: Haden
This bill specifies that the General Assembly occupies and preempts the entire field of legislation touching in any way the control or regulation of specific breeds of dogs. However, a village, town, city, or county can still prohibit dogs from running at large or to further control or regulate dogs within its boundaries so long as the ordinance, order, policy, or regulation is not breed specific.
Any village, town, city, or county with an existing breed-specific order, ordinance, policy, or regulation in effect on or before August 28, 2024, shall have until February 28, 2025 to become compliant with the bill. After February 28, 2025, all noncompliant breed-specific orders, ordinances, policies, and regulations shall be unenforceable.
The bill shall not infringe on any village, town, city, or county to enact or enforce a vicious dog order.
Whenever a peace officer responds to an incident where an animal bites, the peace officer shall report the incident to the public health agency. The public health agency shall contact the county sheriff after two separate reports of an animal bite by the same animal.
A child or vulnerable person, as defined in the bill, testifying shall be entitled to a certified therapeutic dog, as defined in the bill, in lieu of a support person.
Statutes affected: