SB 1446 — AN ACT CONCERNING ROAMING DOGS.

Senate General Assembly RaisedFile Bill No.

1446776 January Session, 2025 LCOSenate Bill No.

58931446 ReferredSenate, toApril 28, 2025 The Committee on JUDICIARYJudiciary Introducedreportedthrough by:SEN.

(JUD)WINFIELD ANof ACTthe CONCERNING10th ROAMINGDist., DOGS.Chairperson of the Committee on the part of the Senate, that the bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING ROAMING DOGS.

[Violation of anySB1446 provision/ ofFile this subsection shall be an infraction.] LCO 5893 1 of 2 Raised Bill No.

1446776 (b)1 TheSB1446 animalFile controlNo. officer or regional animal control officer appointed pursuant to section 22-328, 22-331 or 22-331a, as applicable, of any city or town in which any such dog or livestock is found roaming at large may, in addition to any other remedies provided by law, seek an order enforcing the provisions of this section, including an injunction, from the superior court of the judicial district in which such dog or livestock is found roaming at large.

776 any provision of this subsection shall be an infraction.] (b) The animal control officer or regional animal control officer appointed pursuant to section 22-328, 22-331 or 22-331a, as applicable, of any city or town in which any such dog or livestock is found roaming at large may, in addition to any other remedies provided by law, seek an order enforcing the provisions of this section, including an injunction, from the superior court of the judicial district in which such dog or livestock is found roaming at large.

Section 1 October 1, 2025 22-364 JUD Joint Favorable LCOSB1446 5893/ 2File ofNo. 2

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776 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.

In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.

Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:

Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 26 $ FY 27 $ Judicial Dept.

(Probation) GF - Potential See Below See Below Cost Resources of the General Fund GF - Potential See Below See Below Revenue Gain Note:

GF=General Fund Municipal Impact:

None Explanation The bill increases the penalty to owners of roaming dogs from an infraction to a fine up to $350 for a first violation, a fine up to $500 for a second violation, and a class C misdemeanor for subsequent violations.

This results in a potential cost to the Judicial Department for probation and a potential revenue gain to the General Fund from fines.

1 On average, the marginal cost for supervision in the community is less than $600 each year for adults.

The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to inflation and the actual violations.

In FY 24, 1,256 charges were recorded and $50,332 in associated revenue collected under CGS § 22-364(a).

2Probation marginal cost is based on services provided by private providers and only includes costs that increase with each additional participant.

This does not include a cost for additional supervision by a probation officer unless a new offense is anticipated to result in enough additional offenders to require additional probation officers.

SB1446 / File No.

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776 OLR Bill Analysis SB 1446 AN ACT CONCERNING ROAMING DOGS.

SUMMARY This bill increases the penalty for dog owners or keepers who allow their dogs to roam at large on another’s land or on a public highway when not under their control.

Under current law, this is an infraction.

The bill instead makes it punishable by a fineof upto $350for a first violation,afineof upto $500 for a second violation, and a class C misdemeanor for a subsequent violation,whichispunishableby afineofupto $500,uptothree months in prison, or both.

By law, the unauthorized presence of a dog on another’s land or a public highway when not under its owner’s or keeper’s control is prima facie evidence of a violation.

The bill also makes technical changes.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

October 1, 2025 COMMITTEE ACTION Judiciary Committee Joint Favorable Yea 39 Nay 0 (04/10/2025) SB1446 / File No.

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