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GA SB356
Bill
Status
Passed
4/26/2016
Primary Sponsor
Michael Williams
Click for details
AI Summary
- Defines "owner" as a person who intentionally exercises custody, control, possession, or ownership of an animal
- Expands grounds for animal impoundment from violations of specific consent orders to any violation of Article 1 of Chapter 11 (the Georgia Animal Protection Act), and prohibits agencies from returning impounded animals to owners who have prior convictions or findings of animal cruelty, dog fighting, or related offenses under any local, state, or federal law
- Creates a new petition process (Code Section 4-11-9.8) allowing impounding agencies to seek court orders requiring animal owners to deposit funds sufficient to cover all anticipated costs of impoundment and care, with recurring 30-day payments required until the animal is relinquished or the case reaches final disposition; failure to pay within 5 days results in automatic forfeiture of the animal
- Provides indigency protections for owners of a single impounded animal, allowing courts to reduce or waive impoundment costs, and entitles owners acquitted of all charges to request a full refund of costs paid
- Grants magistrate courts explicit jurisdiction to foreclose liens on animals, provided the lien amount falls within the court's jurisdictional limits, and adds adoption as a permissible method of disposing of impounded animals not returned to their owners
Legislative Description
Animals; provide definition of term "owner"; impoundment of animals for any violation; caring for an impounded animal
Last Action
Effective Date
4/26/2016
Full Bill Text
No bill text available