AB108: Bill Text

LRB-0480/1

RCT:jld:pg

2003 - 2004 LEGISLATURE

2003 Assembly BILL 108

March 3, 2003 - Introduced by Representatives Hines, Jeskewitz, Freese, Bies, Gielow, Krawczyk, Hahn, Townsend, Owens, Lothian, Wasserman, Vrakas and Gronemus, cosponsored by Senator Schultz. Referred to Committee on Public Health.

AB108,1,3 An Act to amend 95.21 (2) (title), 95.21 (2) (a), 95.21 (2) (b), 95.21 (2) (c) and 95.21 (2) (f) of the statutes; relating to: requiring rabies vaccination for cats and providing a penalty.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the owner of a dog is required to have the dog vaccinated against rabies. This bill requires the owner of a cat to have the cat vaccinated against rabies.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB108, s. 1 Section 1. 95.21 (2) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB108,1,5 95.21 (2) (title) Rabies vaccination required for dogs and cats.

AB108, s. 2 Section 2. 95.21 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB108,2,8 95.21 (2) (a) Requirement for vaccination. Except as provided in s. 174.054, the owner of a dog or cat shall have the dog or cat vaccinated against rabies by a veterinarian at no later than 5 months of age and revaccinated within one year after the initial vaccination. If the owner obtains the dog or cat or brings the dog or cat into this state after the dog or cat has reached 5 months of age, the owner shall have the dog or cat vaccinated against rabies within 30 days after the dog or cat is obtained or brought into the state unless the dog or cat has been vaccinated as evidenced by a current certificate of rabies vaccination from this state or another state. The owner of a dog or cat shall have the dog or cat revaccinated against rabies by a veterinarian before the date that the immunization expires as stated on the certificate of vaccination or, if no date is specified, within 3 years after the previous vaccination.

AB108, s. 3 Section 3. 95.21 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB108,2,19 95.21 (2) (b) Issuance of certificate of rabies vaccination. A veterinarian who vaccinates a dog or cat against rabies shall complete and issue to the owner a certificate of rabies vaccination bearing a serial number and in the form approved by the department stating the owner's name and address, the name, sex, spayed or unspayed, neutered or unneutered, breed, and color of the dog or cat, the date of the vaccination, the type of rabies vaccine administered and the manufacturer's serial number, the date that the immunization expires as specified for that type of vaccine by the center for disease control of the U.S. department of health and human services, and the city, village, or town where the dog is required to be licensed or where the cat is kept.

AB108, s. 4 Section 4. 95.21 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB108,2,24 95.21 (2) (c) Copies of certificate. The veterinarian shall keep a copy of each certificate of rabies vaccination in a file maintained for this purpose until the date that the immunization expires or until the dog or cat is revaccinated whichever occurs first.

AB108, s. 5 Section 5. 95.21 (2) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB108,3,11 95.21 (2) (f) Tag to be attached. The owner of a dog shall attach the rabies vaccination tag or a substitute tag to a collar and a collar with the tag attached shall be kept on the dog at all times but this requirement does not apply to a dog during competition or training, to a dog while hunting, to a dog securely confined indoors, to a dog securely confined in a fenced area, or to a dog while actively involved in herding or controlling livestock if the dog is under the control of its owner. The substitute tag shall be of a durable material and contain the same information as the rabies vaccination tag. The owner of a cat is not required to attach the rabies vaccination tag to a collar or to keep a collar with a tag attached on the cat. The requirements of this paragraph do not apply to a dog which is not required to be vaccinated under sub. (2) par. (a).

AB108, s. 6 Section 6. 95.21 (10) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB108,3,15 95.21 (10) (a) Failure to obtain rabies vaccination. An owner who fails to have a dog or cat vaccinated against rabies as required under sub. (2) (a) may be required to forfeit not less than $50 nor more than $100.

AB108, s. 7 Section 7. Effective date.

AB108,3,18 (1) This act takes effect on the first day of the 7th month beginning after publication.

AB108,3,19 (End)