OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
Office of Research Legislative Budget
www.lsc.ohio.gov and Drafting Office
H.B. 647 Bill Analysis
135th General Assembly
Click here for H.B. 647’s Fiscal Note
Version: As Introduced
Primary Sponsor: Rep. J. Miller
Effective date:
Amanda Goodman, Attorney
SUMMARY
▪ Requires a county auditor to transfer certain funds from the county’s dog and kennel fund
to municipal corporations within the county that employ dog wardens.
DETAILED ANALYSIS
The bill requires a county auditor to transfer to a municipal corporation all dog
registration fees paid by the residents of that municipal corporation if the municipal corporation
employs one or more dog wardens, deputies, poundkeepers, or other employees who implement
and enforce ordinances to control dogs. The municipal corporation must use the funds so
received to pay for the compensation of those who implement and enforce dog laws. The county
auditor must make the payments from the county’s dog and kennel fund.1
Under current law, a person who owns a dog generally must register the dog with their
county auditor and pay the required registration fees.2 Each county auditor must deposit those
registration fees in the county treasury into a special fund called the “dog and kennel fund.”
Money in each county’s fund is used for all of the following:
1. Defraying the cost of furnishing all blanks, records, tags, nets, and other equipment;
2. Paying the compensation of county dog wardens, deputies, poundkeepers, and other
employees necessary to carry out and enforce Ohio’s laws governing dogs;
3. Defraying the necessary expenses of registering, seizing, impounding, and destroying
dogs;
1 R.C. 955.221 and 955.20.
2 R.C. 955.01, not in the bill.
August 13, 2024
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
4. Covering any additional expenses incurred by the county auditor when contracting for a
third party to provide online registration services; and
5. If there is a surplus of $2,000 or more each December, transferring that surplus to the
county humane society.3
Under the bill, the county auditor still must pay these costs.
HISTORY
Action Date
Introduced 07-29-24
ANHB0647IN-135/ts
3 R.C. 955.20.
P a g e |2 H.B. 647
As Introduced


Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 955.20, 955.221