HB 1239-FN – AS INTRODUCED
2006 SESSION
01/09
HOUSE BILL 1239-FN
AN ACT relative to dog licensure.
COMMITTEE: Environment and Agriculture
This bill allows an owner or keeper of a dog which for health reasons cannot be vaccinated against rabies to procure a license for the dog if there is written proof from a licensed veterinarian.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
06-2115
01/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Six
AN ACT relative to dog licensure.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Rabies Control. Amend RSA 436:100 to read as follows:
436:100 Rabies Vaccination Required. Except as provided in RSA 436-100-a, every dog, cat, and ferret 3 months of age and older shall be vaccinated against rabies. Young dogs, cats, and ferrets shall be vaccinated within 30 days after they have reached 3 months of age. Unvaccinated dogs, cats, and ferrets acquired or moved into the state shall be vaccinated within 30 days after purchase or arrival, unless under 3 months of age, as specified above. Every dog, cat, and ferret shall be revaccinated at such intervals and with such vaccines as the commissioner shall specify from time to time. In rabies infected areas, dogs, cats, and ferrets recently vaccinated shall be kept under control for at least 30 days before being allowed to run free.
2 New Section; Dogs not Vaccinated due to Health Reasons. Amend RSA 436 by inserting after section 100 the following new section:
436:100-a Dogs not Vaccinated due to Health Reasons. Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or law to the contrary, a dog shall not be required to be vaccinated against rabies pursuant to this chapter if a veterinarian certifies in writing that the health of a dog is in jeopardy if the dog receives the vaccination. Any dog which is not vaccinated against rabies pursuant to this section shall be confined in a fenced area and shall be muzzled when leashed.
3 New Paragraph; Licensing of Dogs; Rabies. Amend RSA 466:1-a by inserting after paragraph II the following new paragraph:
III. Notwithstanding paragraph I and any provision of law to the contrary, an owner or keeper of a dog which cannot be vaccinated against rabies for health reasons, as authorized under RSA 436:100-a, may procure a dog license under this chapter if a written statement from a licensed veterinarian is produced at the time of licensure.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2007.
LBAO
06-2115
11/3/05
HB 1239-FN - FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT relative to dog licensure.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food determined this bill will increase state expenditures by $8,750 in FY 2007 and by $17,500 in FY 2008 and each year thereafter. There will be no fiscal impact on county and local expenditures or state, county and local revenue.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department stated this bill allows an owner or keeper of a dog, which for health reasons cannot be vaccinated against rabies, to procure a license for the dog if there is written proof from a licensed veterinarian. The Department assumes that 1% of the total 70,000 licensed dogs will go unvaccinated. The Department estimated that the 700 unvaccinated dogs will result in 35 more rabies exposures per year. 35 more rabies tests per year at the Department of Health and Human Services lab at $500 per test will result in increased state expenditures of $17,500 per year. The bill is effective January 1, 2007, therefore, the FY 2007 expenditure is reduced by one-half.