This bill amends the existing law regarding the civil forfeiture of unlicensed dogs by increasing the cost of service for the notice to match the rate for certified mail. Specifically, it modifies RSA 466:14 to state that the cost of service for delivering the civil forfeiture notice—whether sent by certified mail, delivered in hand, or left at the dog owner's residence—will be based on the current United States Postal Service rate for certified mail with return receipt. The previous fixed cost of $7 for service has been removed, and the bill clarifies that the same certified mail rate applies to all methods of delivery.

Additionally, the bill allows municipalities to recover the cost of service in addition to the civil forfeiture amount. It maintains the provision that if an unlicensed dog is seized, it will be held for seven days in a local facility, after which ownership will transfer to the facility unless the owner licenses the dog within that period. The owner will also be responsible for daily maintenance fees and any veterinary costs incurred during the dog's stay at the facility. The bill is set to take effect 60 days after its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 466:14
As Amended by the House: 466:14
Version adopted by both bodies: 466:14
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION: 466:14