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PRINTER'S NO. 1889
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1504
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY PASHINSKI, WEBSTER, MADDEN AND FREEMAN,
MAY 23, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS,
MAY 23, 2019
AN ACT
Amending the act of December 7, 1982 (P.L.784, No.225), entitled
"An act relating to dogs, regulating the keeping of dogs;
providing for the licensing of dogs and kennels; providing
for the protection of dogs and the detention and destruction
of dogs in certain cases; regulating the sale and
transportation of dogs; declaring dogs to be personal
property and the subject of theft; providing for the
abandonment of animals; providing for the assessment of
damages done to animals; providing for payment of damages by
the Commonwealth in certain cases and the liability of the
owner or keeper of dogs for such damages; imposing powers and
duties on certain State and local officers and employees;
providing penalties; and creating a Dog Law Restricted
Account," in licenses, tags and kennels, further providing
for compensation and for applications for dog licenses, fees
and penalties.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 200(b) of the act of December 7, 1982
(P.L.784, No.225), known as the Dog Law, is amended to read:
Section 200. Issuance of dog licenses; compensation; proof
required; deposit of funds; records; license sales;
rules and regulations; failure to comply; unlawful
acts; penalty.
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* * *
(b) Compensation.--
(1) For services rendered in collecting and paying over
dog license fees, agents, for as long as they continue to act
in that capacity, may collect and retain [a sum equal to the
cost of a postage stamp plus $1] the following amounts for
each dog license sold, which [amount] amounts shall be full
compensation for services rendered by them under this act[.]:
(i) Beginning on the effective date of this
subparagraph and continuing for one year, the amount
shall be:
(A) $2.
(B) $3, for each lifetime license sold.
(ii) Beginning one year from the effective date of
this subparagraph, the secretary shall have the authority
to establish by regulation the amount of compensation
collected. The amount established shall be only that
which is required to cover the reasonable and necessary
expenses of administering the duties provided in this
act. The amounts shall reflect the increased
administrative duties imposed in selling a lifetime dog
license and shall provide for compensation to the county
treasurer and agents under subsection (a)(1), (4) and
(5).
(2) The compensation shall be retained by the respective
agents and shall cover, among other things, the cost of
processing and issuing dog licenses, postage, mailing,
returns and bonding of the agents. A magisterial district
judge authorized by the county treasurer to process
applications for dog license certificates and issue dog
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license certificates is not authorized to collect
compensation under this subsection. Agents under subsection
(a)(3) and (5) shall collect an additional 50¢ which shall be
remitted to the county treasurer, for the use of the county,
in the same manner as records are forwarded under subsection
(e).
* * *
Section 2. Section 201(a) and (b) of the act are amended and
the section is amended by adding subsections to read:
Section 201. Applications for dog licenses; fees; penalties.
(a) General rule.--Except as provided in subsection (b), on
or before January 1 of each year, the owner of any dog, [three
months] eight weeks of age or older, except as hereinafter
provided, shall apply to the county treasurer of his respective
county or an agent under section 200(a), on a form prescribed by
the department, for the appropriate license for the dog. The
application and license certificate shall state the breed, sex,
age, color and markings of the dog, the name, address and
telephone number of the owner and the year of licensure. The
application shall be accompanied by the appropriate license fee.
[as follows:
(1) For each neutered male dog and for each spayed
female dog for which the certificate of a licensed doctor of
veterinary medicine or the affidavit of the owner is
produced, the license fee shall be $5.
(2) For all other male and female dogs, the license fee
shall be $7.
(3) For Pennsylvania residents 65 years of age or older
and persons with disabilities:
(i) For each neutered male dog and for each spayed
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female dog for which the certificate of a licensed doctor
of veterinary medicine or the affidavit of the owner is
produced, the license fee shall be $3.
(ii) For all other male and female dogs, the license
fee shall be $5.
(4) Compensation, if collected under section 200(b),
shall also be paid by all applicants, regardless of age or
disability.
(5) All additional costs of a vanity or collector tag
issued under this subsection shall be in addition to the
required license fee under this section. The additional cost
shall be distributed equally between the county treasurer
that issued the license and the Dog Law Restricted Account. A
vanity or collector tag shall not be issued without approval
of the department.]
(a.1) Fee schedule.--Beginning on the effective date of this
subsection and continuing for at least one year, the license
fees shall be as follows:
(1) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2), the
fees shall be:
(i) $10.
(ii) $49, for a lifetime license fee.
(2) For Pennsylvania residents who are at least 65 years
of age and persons with disabilities, the fees shall be:
(i) $7.
(ii) $33, for a lifetime license fee.
(a.2) Regulations.--Beginning one year from the effective
date of this subsection, the department may promulgate
regulations to adjust the dog license fees under this section.
The fees shall meet the reasonable expenses of administering the
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duties under this act. The department shall establish separate
fees for Pennsylvania residents who are at least 65 years of age
and persons with disabilities.
(a.3) Applicability.--Compensation, if collected under
section 200(b), shall be paid by all applicants, regardless of
age, disability or type of license.
(a.4) Vanity and collector tags.--All additional costs of a
vanity or collector tag issued under this section shall be in
addition to the required fee under this section. The additional
cost shall be distributed equally between the county treasurer
who issued the license and the Dog Law Restricted Account. A
vanity or collector tag may not be issued without approval of
the department.
(b) Lifetime license.--The owner of any dog [three months of
age or older] which has been permanently identified may apply to
the county treasurer of his respective county or an agent under
section 200(a), on a form prescribed by the department for a
lifetime license for such a dog. Except as otherwise provided in
this act, a dog which has been issued a lifetime license shall
be required to wear a license tag. The application and license
certificate shall state the breed, sex, age, color and markings
of such dog, the type and number of permanent identification and
the name, address and telephone number of the owner. The
application shall be accompanied by the appropriate license fee
[as follows:
(1) For each neutered male dog and for each spayed
female dog for which the certificate of a licensed doctor of
veterinary medicine or the affidavit of the owner is
produced, the lifetime license fee shall be $30.
(2) For all other male and female dogs, the license fee
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shall be $50.
(3) For Pennsylvania residents 65 years of age or older
and persons with disabilities:
(i) For each neutered male dog and for each spayed
female dog for which the certificate of a licensed doctor
of veterinary medicine or the affidavit of the owner is
produced, the license fee shall be $20.
(ii) For all other male and female dogs, the license
fee shall be $30.
(4) Compensation, if collected under section 200(b),
shall also be paid by all applicants, regardless of age or
disability. A dog which has been issued a lifetime license
prior to the effective date of this act shall not be subject
to fees under this subsection.
(5) All additional costs of a vanity or collector tag
issued under this subsection shall be charged in addition to
the fees under this section. The additional cost shall be
distributed equally between the county treasurer that issued
the tag and the Dog Law Restricted Account. A vanity or
collector tag shall not be issued without approval of the
department] established under subsections (a.1) and (a.2).
* * *
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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