SB 1135

  • Virginia Senate Bill
  • 2021 Regular Session
  • Introduced in Senate Jan 01, 2021
  • Passed Senate Feb 01, 2021
  • Passed House Feb 22, 2021
  • Signed by Governor Mar 31, 2021

Dangerous dogs; restructures procedure for adjudication, penalty.

Abstract

Dangerous dogs; procedure for adjudication; penalty. Restructures the procedure for adjudication of a dog as a dangerous dog to provide for (i) written notice by an animal control officer to the owner of the dog that he has applied for a summons, and a prohibition on disposal of the dog by the owner for 30 days; (ii) the issuance of a summons with an option rather than a requirement that the officer confine the dog, a prohibition on the disposal of the dog other than by euthanasia, and an authorization for the court to compel the implanting of electronic identification; (iii) the holding of a hearing within 30 days unless good cause is shown; (iv) the authority of the court if deferring further proceedings without adjudicating to compel the implanting of electronic identification; and (v) a limit of 30 days for any appeal of a dangerous dog adjudication.The bill authorizes an officer to obtain a summons for a hearing to determine whether a dog that has been surrendered is a dangerous dog and provides that any dangerous dog not reclaimed from the animal control officer within 10 days of notice shall be considered abandoned.The bill imposes new requirements for the transfer of dangerous dogs, requiring a releasing agency that is transferring or releasing for adoption a dangerous dog in the Commonwealth to notify the receiving party of the legal requirements for keeping a dangerous dog. If the agency is transferring the dog outside the Commonwealth, it is required to notify the appropriate animal control officer of the dog's adjudication as dangerous. An owner who is bringing a dog found to be dangerous in another state to reside in the Commonwealth shall notify the local animal control officer. Any owner who disposes of a dangerous dog by gift, sale, transfer, trade, or surrender shall notify the receiver in writing of the dog's adjudication as dangerous, with a violation penalized as a Class 3 misdemeanor.Finally, the bill provides that if a dangerous dog adjudication occurred within 60 days of the end of the calendar year, the first renewal of the dangerous dog registration shall be included in the initial registration at no additional charge. The bill contains technical amendments.

Dangerous dogs; procedure for adjudication; penalty. Restructures the procedure for adjudication of a dog as a dangerous dog to provide for (i) written notice by an animal control officer to the owner of the dog that he has applied for a summons, and a prohibition on disposal of the dog by the owner for 30 days; (ii) the issuance of a summons with an option rather than a requirement that the officer confine the dog, a prohibition on the disposal of the dog other than by euthanasia, and an authorization for the court to compel the implanting of electronic identification; (iii) the holding of a hearing within 30 days unless good cause is shown; (iv) the authority of the court if deferring further proceedings without adjudicating to compel the implanting of electronic identification; and (v) a limit of 30 days for any appeal of a dangerous dog adjudication. The bill authorizes an officer to obtain a summons for a hearing to determine whether a dog that has been surrendered is a dangerous dog and provides that any dangerous dog not reclaimed from the animal control officer within 10 days of notice shall be considered abandoned. The bill imposes new requirements for the transfer of dangerous dogs, requiring a releasing agency that is transferring or releasing for adoption a dangerous dog in the Commonwealth to notify the receiving party of the legal requirements for keeping a dangerous dog. If the agency is transferring the dog outside the Commonwealth, it is required to notify the appropriate animal control officer of the dog's adjudication as dangerous. An owner who is bringing a dog found to be dangerous in another state to reside in the Commonwealth shall notify the local animal control officer. Any owner who disposes of a dangerous dog by gift, sale, transfer, trade, or surrender shall notify the receiver in writing of the dog's adjudication as dangerous, with a violation penalized as a Class 3 misdemeanor. Finally, the bill provides that if a dangerous dog adjudication occurred within 60 days of the end of the calendar year, the first renewal of the dangerous dog registration shall be included in the initial registration at no additional charge. The bill contains technical amendments.

Bill Sponsors (2)

Votes


Actions


Mar 31, 2021

Office of the Governor

Approved by Governor-Chapter 464 (effective 7/1/21)

Mar 01, 2021

Office of the Governor

Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., March 31, 2021

Senate

Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 1, 2021

Senate

Impact statement from DPB (SB1135ER)

Feb 26, 2021

House

Signed by Speaker

Feb 25, 2021

Senate

Enrolled

Senate

Signed by President

Feb 23, 2021

Senate

House amendment agreed to by Senate (36-Y 2-N)

Feb 22, 2021

House

Read third time

House

VOTE: Passage (77-Y 23-N)

House

Passed House with amendment (77-Y 23-N)

House

Engrossed by House as amended

House

Committee amendment agreed to

Feb 19, 2021

House

Read second time

Feb 17, 2021

House

House subcommittee amendments and substitutes offered

House

Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with amendment(s) (16-Y 5-N)

House

House committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered

House

Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendments (8-Y 0-N)

Feb 10, 2021

Senate

Impact statement from DPB (SB1135S2)

Feb 09, 2021

House

Assigned ACNR sub: Agriculture

Feb 08, 2021

House

Continued to Special Session 1 in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

Feb 05, 2021

House

Placed on Calendar

House

Read first time

House

Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

Feb 01, 2021

Senate

Read third time and passed Senate (38-Y 0-N)

Senate

Passed Senate (39-Y 0-N)

Senate

Reconsideration of passage agreed to by Senate (39-Y 0-N)

Jan 29, 2021

Senate

Substitute by Senator Marsden agreed to 21104008D-S2

Senate

Reading of substitute waived

Senate

Committee substitute rejected 21103793D-S1

Senate

Reading of substitute waived

Senate

Read second time

Senate

Floor substitute printed 21104008D-S2 (Marsden)

Senate

Senate committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered

Senate

Impact statement from VCSC (SB1135S2)

Senate

Engrossed by Senate - floor substitute SB1135S2

Jan 28, 2021

Senate

Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N)

Jan 27, 2021

Senate

Impact statement from VCSC (SB1135S1)

Jan 26, 2021

Senate

Committee substitute printed 21103739D-S1

Senate

Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitite (13-Y 0-N)

Senate

Senate committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered

Jan 25, 2021

Senate

Senate subcommittee amendments and substitutes offered

Jan 21, 2021

Senate

Assigned ACNR sub: Companion Animals

Jan 19, 2021

Senate

Impact statement from DPB (SB1135)

Jan 18, 2021

Senate

Assigned ACNR sub: Companion Animals

Jan 05, 2021

Senate

Impact statement from VCSC (SB1135)

Jan 01, 2021

Senate

Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

Senate

Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/21 21100694D

Bill Text

Bill Text Versions Format
Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/21 21100694D HTML
Committee substitute printed 21103739D-S1 HTML
SB1135S2 HTML
SB1135ER HTML
CHAP0464 HTML

Related Documents

Document Format
Fiscal Impact Statement: SB1135FS2160.PDF PDF
Fiscal Impact Statement: SB1135FS1160.PDF PDF
Fiscal Impact Statement: SB1135F122.PDF PDF
Fiscal Impact Statement: SB1135F160.PDF PDF
Amendment: SB1135AHE HTML
Amendment: SB1135AH HTML

Sources

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