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An Act To Simplify Dog Licensure By Establishing a 3-year License
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §3922, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2003, c. 405, §§10 to 12, is further amended to read:
 
1. License; January 1st.  EachExcept as provided in subsection 2-A, each owner or keeper of a dog at the age of 6 months or more, on or before January lst of each year, shall obtain a license:
 
A.  From the clerk of the municipality where the dog is kept;
 
B.  From the dog recorder in the unorganized territory where the dog is kept or, in the absence of a duly authorized dog recorder, from a dog recorder in the nearest municipality or unorganized territory in the same county where the dog is kept;
 
C.  From a veterinary licensing agent in accordance with section 3923-F; or
 
D.  From the department using the Internet in accordance with section 3923-G.
Sec. 2.  7 MRSA §3922, sub-§2-A  is enacted to read:
 
2-A.  Three-year license.     An owner or a keeper of a dog 6 months of age or older that has been vaccinated with a 3-year rabies vaccine during the calendar year prior to the year for which licensure is sought may obtain a 3-year license. Under this subsection, the owner or keeper of a dog may obtain a 3-year license:
 
A.  From the clerk of the municipality where the dog is kept;
 
B.  From the dog recorder in the unorganized territory where the dog is kept or, in the absence of a duly authorized dog recorder, from a dog recorder in the nearest municipality or unorganized territory in the same county where the dog is kept;
 
C.  From a veterinary licensing agent in accordance with section 3923-F; or
 
D.  From the department using the Internet in accordance with section 3923-G.
Sec. 3. 7 MRSA §3923-A, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2007, c. 439, §15, is further amended to read:
 
1. Dogs capable of producing young.   A dog owner or keeper shall pay a fee of $11, or $33 for a 3-year license as provided in section 3922, subsection 2-A, to the municipal clerk for each dog 6 months of age or older and capable of producing young. A dog is considered capable of producing young unless certification under subsection 2 is provided.
 
The municipal clerk shall retain a $1 recording fee and pay the remaining $10remainder of the fee to the department for deposit in the Animal Welfare Fund.
Sec. 4. 7 MRSA §3923-A, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2003, c. 405, §13, is further amended to read:
 
2. Dogs incapable of producing young.   A dog owner shall pay a fee of $6, or $18 for a 3-year license as provided in section 3922, subsection 2-A, to the municipal clerk or to a veterinary licensing agent for each dog 6 months of age or older and incapable of producing young. A dog is considered incapable of producing young when the owner provides the following:
 
A. A written certificate issued by a veterinarian stating that the veterinarian has neutered the dog;
 
B. A written certificate issued by a veterinarian stating that the veterinarian has examined the dog and determined that the dog is incapable of producing young; or
 
C. A previous license stating that the dog is incapable of producing young.
 
The municipal clerk shall retain a $1 recording fee, deposit $2 in the municipality's animal welfare account established in accordance with section 3945 and pay the remaining $3remainder of the fee to the department for deposit in the Animal Welfare Fund.
 
SUMMARY
This bill provides an option for an owner or keeper of a dog to obtain a 3-year license if the dog has received a 3-year rabies vaccine. The bill also establishes a 3-year license fee of $33 for dogs capable of producing young and $18 for dogs incapable of producing young.