Ohio Senate Bill SB185 Introduced / Bill

                    As Introduced
136th General Assembly
Regular Session	S. B. No. 185
2025-2026
Senator Blessing
To amend sections 304.02, 304.03, 715.23, 901.80, 
935.03, 955.01, 955.011, 955.012, 955.02, 
955.03, 955.04, 955.05, 955.06, 955.07, 955.10, 
955.11, 955.12, 955.121, 955.14, 955.16, 955.20, 
955.22, 955.221, 955.222, 955.26, 955.261, 
955.40, 955.43, 955.44, 955.50, 955.54, 959.132, 
1533.12, 1901.18, 1907.031, 2913.01, and 
2921.321; to amend, for the purpose of adopting 
new section numbers as indicated in parentheses, 
sections 955.01 (955.02), 955.011 (955.021), 
955.012 (955.022), 955.013 (955.023), 955.02 
(955.01), 955.09 (955.08), 955.10 (955.09), 
955.22 (955.24), 955.221 (955.10), 955.222 
(955.23), and 955.40 (955.262); to enact new 
sections 955.21 and 955.22 and section 955.60; 
and to repeal sections 955.08, 955.21, 955.23, 
955.24, 955.25, 955.39, 955.51, 955.52, 955.53, 
and 955.99 of the Revised Code to make changes 
to the laws governing dogs, including dangerous 
and vicious dogs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That sections 304.02, 304.03, 715.23, 901.80, 
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935.03, 955.01, 955.011, 955.012, 955.02, 955.03, 955.04, 
955.05, 955.06, 955.07, 955.10, 955.11, 955.12, 955.121, 955.14, 
955.16, 955.20, 955.22, 955.221, 955.222, 955.26, 955.261, 
955.40, 955.43, 955.44, 955.50, 955.54, 959.132, 1533.12, 
1901.18, 1907.031, 2913.01, and 2921.321 be amended; sections 
955.01 (955.02), 955.011 (955.021), 955.012 (955.022), 955.013 
(955.023), 955.02 (955.01), 955.09 (955.08), 955.10 (955.09), 
955.22 (955.24), 955.221 (955.10), 955.222 (955.23), and 955.40 
(955.262) be amended for the purpose of adopting new section 
numbers as indicated in parentheses; and new sections 955.21 and 
955.22 and section 955.60 of the Revised Code be enacted to read 
as follows:
Sec. 304.02. Prior to the use of electronic records and 
electronic signatures by a county office under Chapter 1306. of 
the Revised Code, and except as otherwise provided in section 
955.013 955.023 of the Revised Code, a county office shall 
adopt, in writing, a security procedure for the purpose of 
verifying that an electronic signature, record, or performance 
is that of a specific person or for detecting changes or errors 
in the information in an electronic record. A security procedure 
includes, but is not limited to, a procedure that requires the 
use of algorithms or other codes, identifying words or numbers, 
encryption, or callback or other acknowledgment procedures.
Sec. 304.03. (A) Whenever any rule or law requires or 
authorizes the filing of any information, notice, lien, or other 
document or record with any county office, a filing made by an 
electronic record shall have the same force and effect as a 
filing made on paper in all cases where the county office has 
authorized or agreed to the electronic filing and the filing is 
made in accordance with applicable rules or an applicable 
agreement.
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(B) Nothing in this section authorizes or shall be 
construed to authorize the use of a financial transaction device 
in an electronic transaction for the acceptance of payments for 
county expenses, except pursuant to section 301.28 or 955.013 
955.023 of the Revised Code.
(C) As used in this section, "financial transaction 
device" and "county expenses" have the same meanings as in 
section 301.28 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 715.23. Except as otherwise provided in section 
955.221 955.10 of the Revised Code regarding dogs, a municipal 
corporation may regulate, restrain, or prohibit the running at 
large, within the municipal corporation, of cattle, horses, 
swine, sheep, goats, geese, chickens, or other fowl or animals, 
impound and hold the fowl or animals, and, on notice to the 
owners, authorize the sale of the fowl or animals for the 
penalty imposed by any ordinance, and the cost and expenses of 
the proceedings.
Sec. 901.80. (A) As used in this section:
(1) "Agricultural production" has the same meaning as in 
section 929.01 of the Revised Code.
(2) "Agritourism" means an agriculturally related 
educational, entertainment, historical, cultural, or 
recreational activity, including you-pick operations or farm 
markets, conducted on a farm that allows or invites members of 
the general public to observe, participate in, or enjoy that 
activity.
(3) "Agritourism provider" means a person who owns, 
operates, provides, or sponsors an agritourism activity or an 
employee of such a person who engages in or provides agritourism 
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activities whether or not for a fee.
(4) "Farm" means land that is composed of tracts, lots, or 
parcels totaling not less than ten acres devoted to agricultural 
production or totaling less than ten acres devoted to 
agricultural production if the land produces an average yearly 
gross income of at least twenty-five hundred dollars from 
agricultural production.
(5) "Participant" means an individual, other than an 
agritourism provider, who observes or participates in an 
agritourism activity.
(6) "Risk inherent in an agritourism activity" means a 
danger or condition that is an integral part of an agritourism 
activity, including all of the following:
(a) The surface and subsurface conditions of land;
(b) The behavior or actions of wild animals not kept by or 
under the control of an agritourism provider;
(c) The behavior or actions of domestic animals other than 
vicious or dangerous dogs as defined in section 955.11 955.01 of 
the Revised Code;
(d) The ordinary dangers associated with structures or 
equipment ordinarily used in farming or ranching operations;
(e) The possibility of contracting illness resulting from 
physical contact with animals, animal feed, animal waste, or 
surfaces contaminated by animal waste;
(f) The possibility that a participant may act in a 
negligent manner, including by failing to follow instructions 
given by the agritourism provider or by failing to exercise 
reasonable caution while engaging in the agritourism activity 
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that may contribute to injury to that participant or another 
participant.
(B) In a civil action, an agritourism provider is immune 
from liability for any harm a participant sustains during an 
agritourism activity if the participant is harmed as a result of 
a risk inherent in an agritourism activity. Nothing in this 
section requires an agritourism provider to eliminate risks 
inherent in agritourism activities.
(C) An agritourism provider is not immune from civil 
liability for harm sustained by a participant if any of the 
following applies:
(1) The agritourism provider acts with a willful or wanton 
disregard for the safety of the participant and proximately 
causes harm to the participant.
(2) The agritourism provider purposefully causes harm to 
the participant.
(3) The agritourism provider's actions or inactions 
constitute criminal conduct and cause harm to the participant.
(4) The agritourism provider fails to post and maintain 
signs as required by division (D) of this section.
(5) The agritourism provider has actual knowledge or 
should have actual knowledge of an existing dangerous condition 
on the land or regarding facilities or equipment on the land 
that is not an inherent risk and does not make the dangerous 
condition known to the participant, and the dangerous condition 
proximately causes injury or damage to or the death of the 
participant.
(D) An agritourism provider shall post and maintain signs 
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that contain the warning notice specified in this division. The 
provider shall place a sign in a clearly visible location at or 
near each entrance to the agritourism location or at the site of 
each agritourism activity. The warning notice shall consist of a 
sign in black letters with each letter to be a minimum of one 
inch in height. The signs shall contain the following notice of 
warning: "WARNING: Under Ohio law, there is no liability for an 
injury to or death of a participant in an agritourism activity 
conducted at this agritourism location if that injury or death 
results from the inherent risks of that agritourism activity. 
Inherent risks of agritourism activities include, but are not 
limited to, the risk of injury inherent to land, equipment, and 
animals as well as the potential for you as a participant to act 
in a negligent manner that may contribute to your injury or 
death. You are assuming the risk of participating in this 
agritourism activity."
Sec. 935.03. (A) Division (A) of section 935.02 of the 
Revised Code does not apply to any of the following: 
(1) A person to which all of the following apply:
(a) The person possesses a dangerous wild animal.
(b) The person has been issued a license by the United 
States department of agriculture under the federal animal 
welfare act.
(c) The director of agriculture has determined that the 
person is in the process of becoming an accredited member of the 
association of zoos and aquariums or the zoological association 
of America.
(d) The director has informed the person that the person 
is exempt from division (A) of section 935.02 of the Revised 
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Code.
(2) An organization to which all of the following apply:
(a) The organization possesses a dangerous wild animal.
(b) The director has determined that the organization is 
in the process of being accredited or verified by the global 
federation of animal sanctuaries as a wildlife sanctuary.
(c) The director has informed the organization that it is 
exempt from division (A) of section 935.02 of the Revised Code.
(3) A person whose possession of a dangerous wild animal 
is authorized by an unexpired permit issued under this chapter.
(B) Except for the purposes of divisions (A) and (B) of 
section 935.04 of the Revised Code, this chapter does not apply 
to any of the following:
(1) A facility that is an accredited member of the 
association of zoos and aquariums or the zoological association 
of America and that is licensed by the United States department 
of agriculture under the federal animal welfare act;
(2) A research facility as defined in the federal animal 
welfare act;
(3) A research facility that is accredited by the 
association for the assessment and accreditation of laboratory 
animal care international;
(4) A circus;
(5) A wildlife rehabilitation facility that is issued a 
permit by the chief of the division of wildlife in rules adopted 
under section 1531.08 of the Revised Code and that rehabilitates 
dangerous wild animals or restricted snakes that are native to 
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the state for the purpose of reintroduction into the wild;
(6) A veterinarian that is providing temporary veterinary 
care to a dangerous wild animal or restricted snake;
(7) A wildlife sanctuary;
(8) An individual who does not reside in this state, is 
traveling through this state with a dangerous wild animal or 
restricted snake, and does all of the following:
(a) Confines the animal or snake in a cage at all times;
(b) Confines the animal or snake in a cage that is not 
accessible to the public;
(c) Does not exhibit the animal or snake;
(d) Is in the state not more than forty-eight hours unless 
the animal or snake is receiving veterinary care.
(9) An educational institution that displays a single 
dangerous wild animal as a sports mascot and that meets all of 
the following criteria:
(a) An official of the educational institution has 
submitted an affidavit attesting that the institution will care 
for the animal as long as the animal lives and in a facility 
that is an accredited member of the association of zoos and 
aquariums or the zoological association of America.
(b) The educational institution maintains a liability 
insurance policy with an insurer authorized or approved to write 
such insurance in this state that covers claims for injury or 
damage to persons or property caused by a dangerous wild animal. 
The amount of the insurance coverage shall be not less than one 
million dollars.
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(c) During display and transport, the educational 
institution confines the dangerous wild animal in a cage that 
does not permit physical contact between the animal and the 
public.
(d) The educational institution began displaying a 
dangerous wild animal as a mascot prior to September 5, 2012.
(10) Any person who has been issued a permit under section 
1533.08 of the Revised Code, provided that the permit lists each 
specimen of wild animal that is a dangerous wild animal or 
restricted snake in the person's possession;
(11) Any person authorized to possess a dangerous wild 
animal or restricted snake under section 1531.25 of the Revised 
Code or rules adopted under it;
(12) A person with a mobility impairment, as defined in 
section 955.011 955.021 of the Revised Code, who possesses a 
dangerous wild animal specified in division (C)(20)(h) of 
section 935.01 of the Revised Code that has been trained by a 
nonprofit agency or is in such training to assist the person 
with a mobility impairment;
(13) A deaf or hearing-impaired person who possesses a 
dangerous wild animal specified in division (C)(20)(h) of 
section 935.01 of the Revised Code that has been trained by a 
nonprofit agency or is in such training to assist the deaf or 
hearing-impaired person;
(14) A person who is blind, as defined in section 955.011 
955.021 of the Revised Code, and possesses a dangerous wild 
animal specified in division (C)(20)(h) of section 935.01 of the 
Revised Code that has been trained by a nonprofit agency or is 
in such training to assist the blind person.
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Sec. 955.02 955.01. As used in this chapter , "dog kennel":
(A) "Vicious dog" means a dog that has been designated as 
such in accordance with section 955.23 of the Revised Code or a 
dog that has previously engaged in a vicious dog act when 
evidence of such engagement is presented to a court and the 
court determines that the dog has engaged in a previous vicious 
dog act.
(B) "Dangerous dog" means a dog that has been designated 
as such in accordance with section 955.23 of the Revised Code or 
a dog that has previously engaged in a dangerous dog act when 
evidence of such engagement is presented to a court and the 
court determines that the dog has engaged in a previous 
dangerous dog act.
(C) "Nuisance dog" means a dog that has been designated as 
such in accordance with section 955.23 of the Revised Code or a 
dog that has previously engaged in a nuisance dog act when 
evidence of such engagement is presented to a court and the 
court determines that the dog has engaged in a previous nuisance 
dog act.
(D) "Nuisance dog act," "dangerous dog act," and "vicious 
dog act" have the same meanings as in section 955.22 of the 
Revised Code.
(E) "Police dog" means a dog that has been trained, and 
may be used, to assist one or more law enforcement officers in 
the performance of their official duties.
(F) "Dog kennel" or "kennel" means an establishment that 
keeps, houses, and maintains adult dogs, as defined in section 
956.01 of the Revised Code, for the purpose of breeding the dogs 
for a fee or other consideration received through a sale, 
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exchange, or lease and that is not a high volume breeder 
licensed under Chapter 956. of the Revised Code. 
Sec. 955.01 955.02. (A)(1) Except as otherwise provided in 
this section or in sections 955.011, 955.012955.021, 955.022, 
and 955.16 of the Revised Code, every person who owns, keeps, or 
harbors a dog more than three months of age shall file, on or 
after the first day of the applicable December, but before the 
thirty-first day of the applicable January, in the office of the 
county auditor of the county in which the dog is kept or 
harbored, an application for registration for a period of one 
year or three years or an application for a permanent 
registration. The board of county commissioners, by resolution, 
may extend the period for filing the application. The 
application applicant shall state the age, sex, color, character 
of hair, whether short or long, and breed, if known, of the dog 
and the name and address of the owner of the dog on the 
application. A Along with the application, the applicant shall 
submit a registration fee of two dollars for each year of 
registration for a one-year or three-year registration or twenty 
dollars for a permanent registration for each dog shall 
accompany the application . However, the fee may exceed that 
amount if a greater fee has been established under division (A)
(2) of this section or under section 955.14 of the Revised Code. 
(2) A board of county commissioners may establish a 
registration fee higher than the one provided for in division 
(A)(1) of this section for dogs a dog more than nine months of 
age that have has not been spayed or neutered, except that the 
higher registration fee permitted by this division shall does 
not apply if a the person registering a the dog furnishes any of 
the following with the application either a :
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(a) A certificate from a licensed veterinarian verifying 
that the dog should not be spayed or neutered because of its age 
or medical condition or ;
(b) A certificate from a licensed veterinarian verifying 
that the dog should not be spayed or neutered because the dog is 
used or intended for use for show or breeding purposes or a ;
(c) A certificate from the owner of the dog declaring that 
the owner holds a valid hunting license issued by the division 
of wildlife of the department of natural resources and that the 
dog is used or intended for use for hunting purposes. 
(3) If the board establishes such a fee under division (A)
(2) of this section, the application for registration shall 
state whether the dog is spayed or neutered, and whether a 
licensed veterinarian has certified that the dog should not be 
spayed or neutered or the owner has stated that the dog is used 
or intended to be used for hunting purposes. The board may 
require a person who is registering a spayed or neutered dog to 
furnish with the application a certificate from a licensed 
veterinarian verifying that the dog is spayed or neutered. 
No person shall furnish a certificate under this division 
that the person knows to be false.
(B) If the application for registration is not filed and 
the registration fee paid, on or before the thirty-first day of 
the applicable January of each year or, if the board of county 
commissioners by resolution has extended the date to a date 
later than the thirty-first day of January, the date established 
by the board, the auditor shall assess a penalty in an amount 
equal to the registration fee for one year upon the owner, 
keeper, or harborer, which shall be paid with the registration 
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fee.
(C) A person who is the owner, keeper, or harborer of a 
dangerous dog or vicious dog shall register the dog with both 
the county auditor under division (A) of this section and with 
the county dog warden under division (D) of this section. 
(D)(1) A person who is the owner, keeper, or harborer of a 
dangerous dog or vicious dog shall apply for a dangerous dog 
registration to the county dog warden and submit all of the 
following to the dog warden:
(a) A fee of fifty dollars;
(b) The person's address, telephone number, and other 
appropriate means for the dog warden to contact the person, 
along with proof that the person is eighteen years of age or 
older;
(c) With respect to the person and the dog for which the 
dangerous dog registration is required, all of the following:
(i) Either satisfactory evidence of the dog's current 
rabies vaccination or a statement from a licensed veterinarian 
that a rabies vaccination is medically contraindicated for the 
dog;
(ii) Either satisfactory evidence of the fact that the dog 
has been neutered or spayed or a statement from a licensed 
veterinarian that neutering or spaying of the dog is medically 
contraindicated;
(iii) Satisfactory evidence of the fact that the person 
has posted and will continue to post clearly visible signs at 
the person's residence warning both minors and adults of the 
presence of a dangerous dog on the property;
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(iv) Satisfactory evidence of the fact that the dog has 
been permanently identified by means of a microchip and the 
dog's microchip number.
(2) The person shall renew the dangerous dog registration 
annually for the same fee and in the same manner as the initial 
registration was obtained.
(3) If a dangerous dog registration holder relocates to a 
new county, the holder shall follow the procedure in division 
(F) of this section and, upon the expiration of the registration 
issued in the original county, shall renew the registration in 
the new county.
(E) Upon submission in accordance with division (D) of 
this section, the county dog warden shall issue a dangerous dog 
registration to the person. The dog warden also shall provide 
the owner with a uniformly designed tag that identifies the 
animal as a vicious or dangerous dog.
(F)(1) If the owner of a vicious or dangerous dog for whom 
a dangerous dog registration has previously been obtained 
relocates to a new address within the same county, the owner 
shall provide notice of the new address to the county dog warden 
within ten days of relocating to the new address.
(2) If the owner of a vicious or dangerous dog for whom a 
dangerous dog registration has previously been obtained 
relocates to a new address within another county, the owner 
shall do both of the following within ten days of relocating to 
the new address:
(a) Provide written notice of the new address and a copy 
of the original dangerous dog registration to the dog warden of 
the new county;
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(b) Provide written notice of the new address to the dog 
warden of the county where the owner previously resided.
(G) An animal shelter that keeps or harbors a dog more 
than three months of age is exempt from paying any registration 
fees imposed under division (A) or (B) of this section if it is 
a nonprofit organization that is exempt from federal income 
taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 
501(c)(3) of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 
2085, 26 U.S.C. 1.
(H) No owner, keeper, or harborer of any dog shall 
negligently fail to file the application for registration and 
pay the associated fee as required under division (A) of this 
section or, if applicable, fail to pay the penalty prescribed in 
division (B) of this section.
(I) No owner, keeper, or harborer of a vicious or 
dangerous dog shall negligently fail to present a valid 
dangerous dog registration upon request of any law enforcement 
officer, dog warden, or public health official charged with 
enforcing this section.
(J) No owner, keeper, or harborer of a dangerous or 
vicious dog shall negligently fail to do any of the following:
(1) Obtain a dangerous dog registration from the dog 
warden pursuant to this section;
(2) Affix a tag that identifies the dog as a dangerous or 
vicious dog to the dog's collar;
(3) Ensure that the dog wears the collar and tag at all 
times.
(K) No person shall recklessly furnish a certificate under 
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division (A)(2) of this section that the person knows to be 
false.
(L)(1) Whoever violates division (H) of this section shall 
be fined not less than twenty-five dollars or more than one 
hundred dollars on a first offense, and on each subsequent 
offense shall be fined not less than seventy-five dollars or 
more than two hundred fifty dollars and may be imprisoned for 
not more than thirty days.
(2) Whoever violates division (I) of this section is 
guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(3) Whoever violates division (J) of this section is 
guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree and a misdemeanor 
of the third degree on each subsequent offense.
(4) Whoever violates division (K) of this section is 
guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
Sec. 955.011 955.021. (A) When an application is made for 
registration of an assistance dog and the owner can show proof 
by certificate or other means that the dog is an assistance dog, 
the owner of the dog shall be exempt from any fee for the 
registration. Registration for an assistance dog shall be 
permanent and not subject to annual renewal so long as the dog 
is an assistance dog. Certificates and tags stamped "Ohio 
Assistance Dog-Permanent Registration," with registration 
number, shall be issued upon registration of such a dog. Any 
certificate and tag stamped "Ohio Service Dog-Permanent 
Registration," with registration number, that was issued for a 
dog in accordance with this section as it existed on and after 
November 26, 2004, but prior to June 30, 2006, shall remain in 
effect as valid proof of the registration of the dog on and 
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after November 26, 2004. Duplicate certificates and tags for a 
dog registered in accordance with this section, upon proper 
proof of loss, shall be issued and no fee required. Each 
duplicate certificate and tag that is issued shall be stamped 
"Ohio Assistance Dog-Permanent Registration." 
(B) As used in this section and in sections 955.16 and 
955.43 of the Revised Code: 
(1) "Person with a mobility impairment" means any person, 
regardless of age, who is subject to a physiological impairment 
regardless of its cause, nature, or extent that renders the 
person unable to move about without the aid of crutches, a 
wheelchair, or any other form of support, or that limits the 
person's functional ability to ambulate, climb, descend, sit, 
rise, or perform any related function. "Person with a mobility 
impairment" includes a person with a neurological or 
psychological disability that limits the person's functional 
ability to ambulate, climb, descend, sit, rise, or perform any 
related function. "Person with a mobility impairment" also 
includes a person with a seizure disorder and a person who is 
diagnosed with autism. 
(2) "Blind" means either of the following: 
(a) Vision twenty/two hundred or less in the better eye 
with proper correction; 
(b) Field defect in the better eye with proper correction 
that contracts the peripheral field so that the diameter of the 
visual field subtends an angle no greater than twenty degrees. 
(3) "Assistance dog" means a dog that has been trained by 
a nonprofit or for-profit special agency and that is one of the 
following: 
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(a) A guide dog; 
(b) A hearing dog; 
(c) A service dog. 
(4) "Guide dog" means a dog that has been trained or is in 
training to assist a blind person. 
(5) "Hearing dog" means a dog that has been trained or is 
in training to assist a deaf or hearing-impaired person. 
(6) "Service dog" means a dog that has been trained or is 
in training to assist a person with a mobility impairment.
Sec. 955.012 955.022. (A) As used in this section: 
(1) "Controlled substance" has the same meaning as in 
section 3719.01 of the Revised Code.
(2) "Law enforcement agency" means the state highway 
patrol, the office of a county sheriff, the police department of 
a municipal corporation or township, or a township or joint 
police district.
(3) "Law enforcement canine" means a dog regularly 
utilized by a law enforcement agency for general law enforcement 
purposes, tracking, or detecting the presence of a controlled 
substance or explosive.
(B) Instead of obtaining an annual registration under 
section 955.01 955.02 of the Revised Code, a law enforcement 
agency owning, keeping, or harboring a law enforcement canine 
may obtain an annual registration for the dog as a law 
enforcement canine under this section. The application for a law 
enforcement canine registration shall be submitted to the county 
auditor of the county in which the central office of the law 
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enforcement agency that owns, keeps, or harbors the dog is 
located, except that for a dog owned, kept, or harbored by the 
state highway patrol, the application shall be submitted to the 
county auditor of the county in which is located the state 
highway patrol post to which the dog and its handler primarily 
are assigned. The application shall be submitted on or after the 
first day of December immediately preceding the beginning of the 
registration year and before the thirty-first day of January of 
that year. If the period for filing registration applications 
under division (A)(1) of section 955.01 955.02 of the Revised 
Code is extended in the county in which a law enforcement canine 
is to be registered, an application for registration under this 
section shall be submitted to the county auditor not later than 
the registration deadline for that year, as so extended.
The application for registration of a law enforcement 
canine shall state the age, sex, hair color, character of hair, 
whether short or long, and breed, if known, of the dog, the name 
and address of the owner of the dog, and, if the law enforcement 
agency keeping or harboring the dog is different from the owner, 
the name of that law enforcement agency. For a dog owned, kept, 
or harbored by the police department of a municipal corporation 
or township or by a township or joint police district, the 
application shall be signed by the chief of the police 
department or district. For a dog owned, kept, or harbored by 
the office of a county sheriff, the application shall be signed 
by the sheriff. For a dog owned, kept, or harbored by the state 
highway patrol, the application shall be signed by the officer 
in charge of the post of the state highway patrol to which the 
dog and its handler primarily are assigned. The application 
shall include a certification by the chief of the police 
department or district, sheriff, or officer of the state highway 
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patrol post, as applicable, that the dog described in the 
application has been properly trained to carry out one or more 
of the purposes described in division (A)(3) of this section and 
actually is used for one or more of those purposes by the law 
enforcement agency making the application.
No fee is required for issuance of a law enforcement 
canine registration. Upon proper proof of loss, a duplicate 
certificate and tag shall be issued for a dog registered under 
this section, and no fee shall be required.
If an application for registration of a law enforcement 
canine is not filed under this section on or before the thirty-
first day of January of the registration year, or the extended 
registration deadline established under division (A)(1) of 
section 955.01 955.02 of the Revised Code, as applicable, the 
law enforcement canine shall be registered under that section, 
and the registration fee and late registration penalty 
applicable under divisions (A) and (B) of that section shall 
accompany the application.
(C) If a law enforcement agency becomes the owner, keeper, 
or harborer of a law enforcement canine or brings a law 
enforcement canine into the state after the thirty-first day of 
January of a registration year or the extended registration 
deadline established under division (A)(1) of section 955.01 
955.02 of the Revised Code, as applicable, the law enforcement 
agency, within thirty days after becoming the owner, keeper, or 
harborer or bringing the dog into the state, may submit an 
application for registration of the dog under this section. Upon 
submission of the application, the law enforcement agency shall 
be issued such a registration in the manner provided in division 
(B) of this section. If such an application is not filed within 
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the thirty-day period, the dog shall be registered under section 
955.05 of the Revised Code, and the registration fee and late 
registration penalty applicable under that section or section 
955.06 of the Revised Code shall accompany the application.
Sec. 955.013 955.023. (A) As used in this section, 
"financial transaction device" has the same meaning as in 
section 301.28 of the Revised Code.
(B) A county auditor may establish procedures and take 
actions that are necessary to allow for either or both of the 
following:
(1) The registration of dogs and kennels under this 
chapter via the internet;
(2) The payment of dog and kennel registration fees under 
this chapter by financial transaction devices, including payment 
by financial transaction devices via the internet.
Sec. 955.03. Any dog which that has been registered under 
sections 955.01 955.02 and 955.04 of the Revised Code and any 
dog not required to be registered under such sections shall be 
considered as personal property and have all the rights and 
privileges and be subject to like restraints as other livestock.
Sec. 955.04. (A) Every owner of a dog kennel of dogs 
shall, in like manner as provided in division (A) of section 
955.01 955.02 of the Revised Code, make application for the 
registration of such kennel, and pay to the county auditor a 
registration fee of ten dollars for each such kennel, unless a 
greater fee has been established under section 955.14 of the 
Revised Code. If such the application is not filed and the fee 
paid, on or before the thirty-first day of January of each year, 
the auditor shall assess a penalty in an amount equal to the 
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registration fee upon the owner of such kennel. The payment of 
such the kennel registration fee shall entitle entitles the 
licensee to not more than five tags, to bear consecutive numbers 
and to be issued in like manner and have like effect when worn 
by any dog owned in good faith by such licensee as the tags 
provided for in section 955.08 955.07 of the Revised Code. Upon 
application to the county auditor, additional tags, in excess of 
the five tags, may be issued upon payment of an additional fee 
of one dollar per tag.
(B) No owner of a kennel shall recklessly fail to register 
the kennel in accordance with this section.
(C) Whoever violates division (B) of this section shall be 
fined not less than twenty-five dollars or more than one hundred 
dollars on a first offense, and on each subsequent offense shall 
be fined not less than seventy-five dollars or more than two 
hundred fifty dollars and may be imprisoned for not more than 
thirty days.
Sec. 955.05. After the thirty-first day of January of any 
year, except as otherwise provided in section 955.012 955.022 or 
955.16 of the Revised Code, every person, immediately upon 
becoming the owner, keeper, or harborer of any dog more than 
three months of age or brought from outside the state during any 
year, shall file like applications, with fees, as required by 
section 955.01 955.02 of the Revised Code, for registration for 
a period of one year or three years or an application for 
permanent registration. If the application is not filed and the 
fee paid, within thirty days after the dog is acquired, becomes 
three months of age, or is brought from outside the state, the 
auditor shall assess a penalty in an amount equal to the 
registration fee for one year upon the owner, keeper, or 
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harborer, which shall be paid with the registration fee. 
Thereafter, the owner, keeper, or harborer shall register the 
dog as provided in section 955.01 955.02 of the Revised Code, as 
applicable. 
Every person becoming the owner of a dog kennel of dogs 
after the thirty-first day of January of any year shall file 
like applications, with fees, as required by section 955.04 of 
the Revised Code, for the registration of such kennel for the 
current calendar year. If such application is not filed and the 
fee paid within thirty days after the person becomes the owner 
of such kennel, the auditor shall assess a penalty in an amount 
equal to the registration fee upon the owner of such kennel.
Sec. 955.06. (A) The owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog 
becoming three months of age after the first day of July in a 
calendar year and the owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog 
purchased outside the state after the first day of July in a 
calendar year shall register the dog in accordance with division 
(B), (C), or (D) of this section within ninety days of the dog's 
becoming three months of age or within ninety days of the date 
of the purchase of the dog, as applicable. 
(B) The owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog to which 
division (A) of this section applies may register the dog for 
the remainder of the current year. The fee for such a 
registration shall be one-half of the original fee for a one-
year registration. Thereafter, the owner, keeper, or harborer 
shall register the dog for a period of one year, three years, or 
permanently as provided in section 955.01 955.02 of the Revised 
Code.
(C) The owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog to which 
division (A) of this section applies may register the dog for a 
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period consisting of the remainder of the current year and two 
additional years. The fee for such a registration shall be 
eighty-three per cent of the original fee for a three-year 
registration. Thereafter, the owner, keeper, or harborer shall 
register the dog for a period of one year, three years, or 
permanently as provided in section 955.01 955.02 of the Revised 
Code.
(D) The owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog to which 
division (A) of this section applies may register the dog 
permanently. The fee for such a registration shall be the same 
as the original fee for a permanent registration.
Sec. 955.07. (A) Upon the filing of the application for 
registration required by sections 955.01 955.02 and 955.04 of 
the Revised Code and upon the payment of the registration fee 
and the administrative fee, if applicable, the county auditor 
shall assign a distinctive number to every dog or dog kennel 
described in the application and shall deliver a certificate of 
registration bearing the number to the owner of the dog or dog 
kennel. A record of all certificates of registration issued, 
together with the applications for registration, shall be kept 
by the auditor in a dog and kennel register until after an audit 
performed by the auditor of state. This record shall be open to 
the inspection of any person during reasonable business hours. 
(B) In addition to the certificate of registration 
provided for under division (A) of this section, the county 
auditor shall issue to every person applying for the 
registration of a dog and paying the required fee a metal tag 
for each dog so registered. The form, color, character, and 
lettering of the tag shall be prescribed by the county auditor. 
If a tag is lost, a duplicate shall be furnished by the auditor 
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upon proper proof of loss and the payment of five dollars for 
each duplicate tag issued.
Sec. 955.09 955.08. Certificates of registration and 
registration tags shall be valid only during the calendar year 
or years for which they are issued. 
Sec. 955.10 955.09. (A) No owner of a dog, except a dog 
constantly confined to a dog kennel registered under this 
chapter or one licensed under Chapter 956. of the Revised Code, 
shall recklessly fail to require the dog to wear, at all times, 
a valid tag issued in connection with a certificate of 
registration under division (A) of section 955.02 of the Revised 
Code. A dog found not wearing at any time a valid tag shall be 
is prima-facie evidence of lack of registration and shall 
subject any dog found not wearing such a tag to impounding, 
sale, or destruction. 
(B) No person shall recklessly obstruct or interfere with 
anyone lawfully engaged in capturing an unregistered dog or 
examining a dog wearing a tag.
(C) No person shall recklessly own, keep, or harbor a dog 
wearing a fictitious, altered, or invalid registration tag or a 
registration tag not issued by the county auditor in connection 
with the registration of such animal.
(D) Whoever violates division (A), (B), or (C) of this 
section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
Sec. 955.221 955.10. (A) For the purposes of this section, 
ordinances or resolutions to control dogs include, but are not 
limited to, ordinances or resolutions concerned with the 
ownership, keeping, or harboring of dogs, the restraint of dogs, 
dogs as public nuisances, and dogs as a threat to public health, 
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716 S. B. No. 185 Page 26
As Introduced
safety, and welfare, except that such ordinances or resolutions 
as permitted in division (B) of this section shall not prohibit 
the use of any dog which is lawfully engaged in hunting or 
training for the purpose of hunting while accompanied by a 
licensed hunter. However, such dogs at all other times and in 
all other respects shall be subject to the ordinance or 
resolution permitted by this section, unless actually in the 
field and engaged in hunting or in legitimate training for such 
purpose.
(B)(1) A board of county commissioners may adopt and 
enforce resolutions to control dogs within the unincorporated 
areas of the county that are not otherwise in conflict with any 
other provision of the Revised Code.
(2) A board of township trustees may adopt and enforce 
resolutions to control dogs within the township that are not 
otherwise in conflict with any other provision of the Revised 
Code, if the township is located in a county where the board of 
county commissioners has not adopted resolutions to control dogs 
within the unincorporated areas of the county under this 
section. In the event that the board of county commissioners 
adopts resolutions to control dogs in the county after a board 
of township trustees has adopted resolutions to control dogs 
within the township, the resolutions adopted by the county board 
of commissioners prevail over the resolutions adopted by the 
board of township trustees.
(3) A municipal corporation may adopt and enforce 
ordinances to control dogs within the municipal corporation that 
are not otherwise in conflict with any other provision of the 
Revised Code.
(C) No person shall recklessly violate any resolution or 
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As Introduced
ordinance adopted under this section.
(D) Whoever violates division (C) of this section is 
guilty of a minor misdemeanor. Each day of continued violation 
constitutes a separate offense. Fines levied and collected for 
violations of that division shall be distributed by the mayor or 
clerk of the municipal or county court in accordance with 
section 733.40, division (F) of section 1901.31, or division (C) 
of section 1907.20 of the Revised Code to the treasury of the 
county, township, or municipal corporation whose resolution or 
ordinance was violated.
Sec. 955.11. (A) As used in this section: 
(1)(a) "Dangerous dog" means a dog that, without 
provocation, and subject to division (A)(1)(b) of this section, 
has done any of the following:
(i) Caused injury, other than killing or serious injury, 
to any person;
(ii) Killed another dog;
(iii) Been the subject of a third or subsequent violation 
of division (C) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code.
(b) "Dangerous dog" does not include a police dog that has 
caused injury, other than killing or serious injury, to any 
person or has killed another dog while the police dog is being 
used to assist one or more law enforcement officers in the 
performance of their official duties.
(2) "Menacing fashion" means that a dog would cause any 
person being chased or approached to reasonably believe that the 
dog will cause physical injury to that person.
(3)(a) Subject to division (A)(3)(b) of this section, 
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As Introduced
"nuisance dog" means a dog that without provocation and while 
off the premises of its owner, keeper, or harborer has chased or 
approached a person in either a menacing fashion or an apparent 
attitude of attack or has attempted to bite or otherwise 
endanger any person.
(b) "Nuisance dog" does not include a police dog that 
while being used to assist one or more law enforcement officers 
in the performance of official duties has chased or approached a 
person in either a menacing fashion or an apparent attitude of 
attack or has attempted to bite or otherwise endanger any 
person.
(4) "Police dog" means a dog that has been trained, and 
may be used, to assist one or more law enforcement officers in 
the performance of their official duties.
(5) "Serious injury" means any of the following:
(a) Any physical harm that carries a substantial risk of 
death;
(b) Any physical harm that involves a permanent 
incapacity, whether partial or total, or a temporary, 
substantial incapacity;
(c) Any physical harm that involves a permanent 
disfigurement or a temporary, serious disfigurement;
(d) Any physical harm that involves acute pain of a 
duration that results in substantial suffering or any degree of 
prolonged or intractable pain.
(6)(a) "Vicious dog" means a dog that, without provocation 
and subject to division (A)(6)(b) of this section, has killed or 
caused serious injury to any person.
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802 S. B. No. 185 Page 29
As Introduced
(b) "Vicious dog" does not include either of the 
following:
(i) A police dog that has killed or caused serious injury 
to any person while the police dog is being used to assist one 
or more law enforcement officers in the performance of their 
official duties;
(ii) A dog that has killed or caused serious injury to any 
person while a person was committing or attempting to commit a 
trespass or other criminal offense on the property of the owner, 
keeper, or harborer of the dog.
(7) "Without provocation" means that a dog was not teased, 
tormented, or abused by a person, or that the dog was not coming 
to the aid or the defense of a person who was not engaged in 
illegal or criminal activity and who was not using the dog as a 
means of carrying out such activity.
(B) Upon the transfer of ownership of any dog, the seller 
of the dog shall give the buyer a transfer of ownership 
certificate that shall be signed by the seller. The certificate 
shall contain the registration number of the dog, the name of 
the seller, and a brief description of the dog. Blank forms of 
the certificate may be obtained from the county auditor. A 
transfer of ownership shall be recorded by the auditor upon 
presentation of a transfer of ownership certificate that is 
signed by the former owner of a dog and that is accompanied by a 
fee of five dollars.
(C) Prior (B) Except as provided in division (C) of this 
section, prior to the transfer of ownership or possession of any 
a dog, upon the buyer's or other transferee's request, the 
seller or other transferor of the dog shall give to the person a 
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As Introduced
written notice relative to the behavior and propensities of the 
dog.
(D)(C) Within ten days after the transfer of ownership or 
possession of any dog, if the seller or other transferor of the 
dog has knowledge that the dog is a dangerous dog or vicious 
dog, the seller or other transferor shall give to the buyer or 
other transferee, the board of health for the district in which 
the buyer or other transferee resides, and the dog warden of the 
county in which the buyer or other transferee resides, a 
completed copy of a written form on which the seller shall 
furnish the following information:
(1) The name and address of the buyer or other transferee 
of the dog;
(2) The age, sex, color, breed, and current registration 
number of the dog.
In addition, the seller shall answer the following 
questions, which shall be specifically stated on the form as 
follows:
"Has the dog ever chased or attempted to attack or bite a 
person? If yes, describe the incident(s) in which the behavior 
occurred."
"Has the dog ever bitten a person? If yes, describe the 
incident(s) in which the behavior occurred."
"Has the dog ever seriously injured or killed a person? If 
yes, describe the incident(s) in which the behavior occurred."
The seller or other transferor shall obtain the signature 
of the buyer or other transferee after a statement on the form 
that the buyer or other transferee understands that such person 
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As Introduced
is acquiring a dangerous or vicious dog.
The dog warden of the county in which the seller resides 
shall furnish the form to the seller at no cost.
(E)(D)(1) No seller or other transferor of a dog shall 
recklessly fail to comply with the applicable requirements of 
divisions (B) to (D) division (A) of this section.
(2) No seller or other transferor of a dog shall 
recklessly fail to comply with the requirements of division (B) 
or (C) of this section.
(E)(1) Whoever violates division (D)(1) of this section is 
guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(2) Whoever violates division (D)(2) of this section is 
guilty of a minor misdemeanor on a first offense and of a 
misdemeanor of the fourth degree on each subsequent offense.
Sec. 955.12. (A) Except as provided in section 955.121 of 
Revised Code, a board of county commissioners shall appoint or 
employ a county dog warden and deputies in such number, for such 
periods of time, and at such compensation as the board considers 
necessary to enforce sections 955.01 to 955.27 and 955.50 to 
955.53 of the Revised Code this chapter.
(B) Except as otherwise provided in section 3.061 of the 
Revised Code, the warden and deputies shall give bond in a sum 
not less than five hundred dollars and not more than two 
thousand dollars, as set by the board, conditioned for the 
faithful performance of their duties. The bond or bonds may, in 
the discretion of the board, be individual or blanket bonds. The 
bonds shall be filed with the county auditor of their respective 
counties.
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887 S. B. No. 185 Page 32
As Introduced
(C) The warden and deputies shall make a record of all 
dogs owned, kept, and harbored in their respective counties. 
They shall patrol their respective counties and seize and 
impound on sight all dogs found running at large and all dogs 
more than three months of age found not wearing a valid 
registration tag, except any dog that wears a valid registration 
tag and is: on the premises of its owner, keeper, or harborer, 
under the reasonable control of its owner or some other person, 
hunting with its owner or its handler at a field trial, kept 
constantly confined in a dog kennel registered under this 
chapter or one licensed under Chapter 956. of the Revised Code, 
or acquired by, and confined on the premises of, an institution 
or organization of the type described in section 955.16 of the 
Revised Code. A dog that wears a valid registration tag may be 
seized on the premises of its owner, keeper, or harborer and 
impounded only in the event of a natural disaster.
(D) If a dog warden has reason to believe that a dog is 
being treated inhumanely on the premises of its owner, keeper, 
or harborer, the warden shall apply to the court of common pleas 
for the county in which the premises are located for an order to 
enter the premises, and if necessary, seize the dog. If the 
court finds probable cause to believe that the dog is being 
treated inhumanely, it shall issue such an order notify, in 
writing, the humane society or the appropriate law enforcement 
authority that has jurisdiction to enforce Chapter 959. of the 
Revised Code.
(E) The warden and deputies shall also make weekly 
reports, in writing, to the board in their respective counties 
of all dogs seized, impounded, redeemed, and destroyed.
(F) The wardens and deputies shall have the same police 
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917 S. B. No. 185 Page 33
As Introduced
powers, including the authority to make arrests, as are 
conferred upon sheriffs and police officers in the performance 
of their duties as prescribed by sections 955.01 to 955.27 and 
955.50 to 955.53 of the Revised Code this chapter. They shall 
also have power to summon the assistance of bystanders in 
performing their duties and may serve writs and other legal 
processes issued by any court in their respective counties with 
reference to enforcing those sections. County auditors may 
deputize the wardens or deputies to issue dog licenses as 
provided in sections 955.01 and 955.14 of the Revised Code.
(G) Whenever any person files an affidavit in a court of 
competent jurisdiction that there is a dog running at large that 
is not kept constantly confined either in a dog kennel 
registered under this chapter or one licensed under Chapter 956. 
of the Revised Code or on the premises of an institution or 
organization of the type described in section 955.16 of the 
Revised Code or that a dog is kept or harbored in the warden's 
jurisdiction without being registered as required by law, the 
court shall immediately order the warden to seize and impound 
the dog. Thereupon the warden shall immediately seize and 
impound the dog complained of. The warden shall give immediate 
notice by certified mail to the owner, keeper, or harborer of 
the dog seized and impounded by the warden, if the owner, 
keeper, or harborer can be determined from the current year's 
registration list maintained by the warden and the county 
auditor of the county where the dog is registered, that the dog 
has been impounded and that, unless the dog is redeemed within 
fourteen days of the date of the notice, it may thereafter be 
sold or destroyed according to law. If the owner, keeper, or 
harborer cannot be determined from the current year's 
registration list maintained by the warden and the county 
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948 S. B. No. 185 Page 34
As Introduced
auditor of the county where the dog is registered, the officer 
shall post a notice in the pound or animal shelter both 
describing the dog and place where seized and advising the 
unknown owner that, unless the dog is redeemed within three 
days, it may thereafter be sold or destroyed according to law.
(H) No county dog warden shall knowingly fail to perform 
the warden's duties under this section or other legal duties 
required of dog wardens.
(I) Whoever violates division (H) of this section is 
guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
Sec. 955.121. (A)(1) In lieu of appointing a county dog 
warden and deputies under section 955.12 of the Revised Code, a 
board of county commissioners may appoint the county sheriff to 
enforce sections 955.01 to 955.27 and 955.50 to 955.53 of the 
Revised Codethis chapter. If a board chooses to appoint the 
county sheriff as the county dog warden, the board shall enter 
into a two-year written agreement with the sheriff for that 
purpose at the first meeting in a calendar year following a 
general election in which at least one of the members of the 
board was elected.
(2) The agreement may authorize both of the following:
(a) The sheriff to appoint sheriff's deputies or persons 
other than peace officers as deputy dog wardens;
(b) The transfer of any benefits accrued by employees who 
are transferred as a result of the county sheriff's being 
appointed as the county dog warden.
(B) Any dog warden and deputy dog wardens appointed under 
this section shall comply with both of the following:
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976 S. B. No. 185 Page 35
As Introduced
(1) Any training requirements applicable to county dog 
wardens and deputy dog wardens appointed or employed under 
section 955.12 of the Revised Code;
(2) The requirements established in that section.
(C) If a county sheriff or a sheriff's deputies are 
appointed as a dog warden or deputy dog wardens under this 
section, references in this chapter and in Chapters 953., 956., 
and 959. of the Revised Code to "dog warden" and "deputy dog 
warden" shall be deemed to be replaced, respectively, with 
references to "sheriff" and "deputy sheriff."
Sec. 955.14. (A) Notwithstanding section 955.01 955.02 of 
the Revised Code, a board of county commissioners by resolution 
may increase dog and kennel registration fees in the county. The 
amount of the fees shall not exceed an amount that the board, in 
its discretion, estimates is needed to pay all expenses for the 
administration of this chapter. Such a resolution shall be 
adopted not earlier than the first day of February and not later 
than the thirty-first day of August of any year and shall 
specify the registration period or periods to which the 
increased fees apply. An increase in fees adopted under this 
division shall be in the ratio of two dollars for each year of 
registration for a dog registration fee, twenty dollars for a 
permanent dog registration fee, and ten dollars for a kennel 
registration fee.
(B) Notwithstanding section 955.20 of the Revised Code, if 
dog and kennel registration fees in any county are increased 
above two dollars for each year of registration and twenty 
dollars for a permanent registration for a dog registration fee 
and ten dollars for a kennel registration fee under authority of 
division (A) of this section, then on or before the first day of 
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1006 S. B. No. 185 Page 36
As Introduced
March following each year in which the increased fees are in 
effect, the county auditor shall draw on the dog and kennel fund 
a warrant payable to the college of veterinary medicine of the 
Ohio state university in an amount equal to ten cents for each 
one-year dog registration, thirty cents for each three-year dog 
registration, one dollar for each permanent dog registration, 
and ten cents for each kennel registration fee received during 
the preceding year. The money received by the college of 
veterinary medicine of the Ohio state university under this 
division shall be applied for research and study of the diseases 
of dogs, particularly those transmittable to humans, and for 
research of other diseases of dogs that by their nature will 
provide results applicable to the prevention and treatment of 
both human and canine illness.
(C) The Ohio state university college of veterinary 
medicine shall be responsible to report annually to the general 
assembly the progress of the research and study authorized and 
funded by division (B) of this section. The report shall briefly 
describe the research projects undertaken and assess the value 
of each. The report shall account for funds received pursuant to 
division (B) of this section and for the funds expended 
attributable to each research project and for other necessary 
expenses in conjunction with the research authorized by division 
(B) of this section. The report shall be filed with the general 
assembly by the first day of May of each year.
(D) The county auditor may authorize agents to receive 
applications for registration of dogs and kennels and to issue 
certificates of registration and tags. If authorized agents are 
employed in a county, each applicant for a dog or kennel 
registration shall pay to the agent an administrative fee of 
seventy-five cents in addition to the registration fee. The 
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1037 S. B. No. 185 Page 37
As Introduced
administrative fee shall be the compensation of the agent. The 
county auditor shall establish rules for reporting and 
accounting by the agents. No administrative or similar fee shall 
be charged in any county except as authorized by this division 
or division (E) of this section.
(E) For any county that accepts the payment of dog and 
kennel registration fees by financial transaction devices in 
accordance with section 955.013 955.023 of the Revised Code, in 
addition to those registration fees, the county auditor shall 
collect for each registration paid by a financial transaction 
device one of the following:
(1) An administrative fee of seventy-five cents or another 
amount necessary to cover actual costs designated by the county 
auditor;
(2) If the board of county commissioners adopts a 
surcharge or convenience fee for making payments by a financial 
transaction device under division (E) of section 301.28 of the 
Revised Code, that surcharge or convenience fee;
(3) If the county auditor contracts with a third party to 
provide services to enable registration via the internet as 
provided in section 955.013 955.023 of the Revised Code, a 
surcharge or convenience fee as agreed to between that third 
party and the county for those internet registration services. 
Any additional expenses incurred by the county auditor that 
result from a contract with a third party as provided in this 
section and section 955.013 955.023 of the Revised Code and that 
are not covered by a surcharge or convenience fee shall be paid 
out of the allowance provided to the county auditor under 
section 955.20 of the Revised Code.
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1066 S. B. No. 185 Page 38
As Introduced
(F) The county auditor shall post conspicuously the amount 
of the administrative fee, surcharge, or convenience fee that is 
permissible under this section on the web page where the auditor 
accepts payments for registrations made under division (B)(1) of 
section 955.013 955.023 of the Revised Code. If any person 
chooses to pay by financial transaction device, the 
administrative fee, surcharge, or convenience fee shall be 
considered voluntary and is not refundable.
Sec. 955.16. (A) Dogs that have been seized by the county 
dog warden and impounded shall be kept, housed, and fed for 
three days for the purpose of redemption, as provided by section 
955.18 of the Revised Code, unless any of the following applies:
(1) Immediate humane destruction of the dog is necessary 
because of obvious disease or injury. If the diseased or injured 
dog is registered, as determined from the current year's 
registration list maintained by the warden and the county 
auditor of the county where the dog is registered, the necessity 
of destroying the dog shall be certified by a licensed 
veterinarian or a registered veterinary technician. If the dog 
is not registered, the decision to destroy it shall be made by 
the warden.
(2) The dog is currently registered on the registration 
list maintained by the warden and the auditor of the county 
where the dog is registered and the attempts to notify the 
owner, keeper, or harborer under section 955.12 of the Revised 
Code have failed, in which case the dog shall be kept, housed, 
and fed for fourteen days for the purpose of redemption.
(3) The warden has contacted the owner, keeper, or 
harborer under section 955.12 of the Revised Code, and the 
owner, keeper, or harborer has requested that the dog remain in 
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1096 S. B. No. 185 Page 39
As Introduced
the pound or animal shelter until the owner, harborer, or keeper 
redeems the dog. The time for such redemption shall be not more 
than forty-eight hours following the end of the appropriate 
redemption period.
Any dog not so redeemed may be adopted out or donated to 
any person, including a nonprofit special agency that is engaged 
in the training of any type of assistance dogs or to a nonprofit 
teaching or research institution or organization that is 
certified by the director of health as being engaged in teaching 
or research concerning the prevention and treatment of diseases 
of human beings or animals. The county dog warden may charge an 
adoption fee for any dog that is adopted. Except as provided in 
division (B) of this section, no dog shall be discharged from 
the pound or animal shelter until the animal has been registered 
and furnished with a valid registration tag.
(B) Any dog that is donated to a nonprofit special agency 
engaged in the training of any type of assistance dogs in 
accordance with division (A) of this section and any dog that is 
sold to any nonprofit teaching or research institution or 
organization shall be discharged from the pound or animal 
shelter without registration and may be kept by the agency or by 
the institution or organization without registration so long as 
the dog is being trained, or is being used for teaching and 
research purposes.
Any institution or organization certified by the director 
that obtains dogs for teaching and research purposes pursuant to 
this section shall, at all reasonable times, make the dogs 
available for inspection by humane society agents, appointed 
pursuant to section 1717.06 of the Revised Code, in order that 
the agents may prevent the perpetration of any act of cruelty, 
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1126 S. B. No. 185 Page 40
As Introduced
as defined in section 1717.01 of the Revised Code, to the dogs.
(C) Any dog that the dog warden or poundkeeper is unable 
to dispose of, in the manner provided by this section and 
section 955.18 of the Revised Code, may be humanely destroyed, 
except that no dog shall be destroyed until twenty-four hours 
after it has been offered to a nonprofit teaching or research 
institution or organization, as provided in this section, that 
has made a request for dogs to the dog warden or poundkeeper.
(D) An owner of a dog that is wearing a valid registration 
tag who presents the dog to the dog warden or poundkeeper may 
specify in writing that the dog shall not be offered to a 
nonprofit teaching or research institution or organization, as 
provided in this section.
(E) A record of all dogs impounded, the disposition of the 
same, the owner's name and address, if known, and a statement of 
costs assessed against the dogs shall be kept by the 
poundkeeper, and the poundkeeper shall furnish a transcript 
thereof to the county treasurer quarterly.
A record of all dogs received and the source that supplied 
them shall be kept, for a period of three years from the date of 
acquiring the dogs, by all institutions or organizations engaged 
in teaching or research concerning the prevention and treatment 
of diseases of human beings or animals.
(F) No person shall recklessly destroy any dog by the use 
of a high altitude decompression chamber or by any method other 
than a method that immediately and painlessly renders the dog 
initially unconscious and subsequently dead.
(G) Whoever violates division (F) of this section is 
guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
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1155 S. B. No. 185 Page 41
As Introduced
Sec. 955.20. The registration fees provided for in 
sections 955.01 955.02 to 955.14 of the Revised Code constitute 
a special fund known as "the dog and kennel fund." The fees 
shall be deposited by the county auditor in the county treasury 
daily as collected. Money in the fund shall be used for the 
purpose of defraying the cost of furnishing all blanks, records, 
tags, nets, and other equipment, for the purpose of paying the 
compensation of county dog wardens, deputies, poundkeepers, and 
other employees necessary to carry out and enforce sections 
955.01 955.02 to 955.261 of the Revised Code, and in accordance 
with section 955.27 of the Revised Code. The board of county 
commissioners, by resolution, shall appropriate sufficient funds 
out of the dog and kennel fund, not more than fifteen per cent 
of which shall be expended by the auditor for registration tags, 
blanks, records, and clerk hire, for the purpose of defraying 
the necessary expenses of registering, seizing, impounding, and 
destroying dogs in accordance with sections 955.01 to 955.27 of 
the Revised Code, and for the purpose of covering any additional 
expenses incurred by the county auditor as authorized by 
division (E)(3) of section 955.14 of the Revised Code.
If the funds so appropriated in any calendar year are 
found by the board to be insufficient to defray the necessary 
cost and expense of the county dog warden in enforcing sections 
955.01 955.02 to 955.27 of the Revised Code, the board, by 
resolution so provided, may appropriate further funds for the 
use and purpose of the county dog warden in administering those 
sections. 
Sec. 955.21.  (A) Except when a dog is lawfully engaged in  
hunting and accompanied by the owner, keeper, harborer, or 
handler of the dog, no owner, keeper, or harborer of any dog 
shall recklessly fail at any time to do either of the following:
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1186 S. B. No. 185 Page 42
As Introduced
(1) Keep the dog physically confined or restrained upon 
the premises of the owner, keeper, or harborer by a leash, 
tether, adequate fence, supervision, or secure enclosure to 
prevent escape;
(2) Keep the dog under the reasonable control of some 
person.
(B) Whoever commits a violation of this section that 
involves a dog that is not a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or 
vicious dog shall be fined not less than twenty-five dollars or 
more than one hundred dollars on a first offense, and on each 
subsequent offense shall be fined not less than seventy-five 
dollars or more than two hundred fifty dollars and may be 
imprisoned for not more than thirty days. Additionally, the 
court may order the offender to personally supervise the dog 
that the offender owns, keeps, or harbors, to cause that dog to 
complete dog obedience training, or to do both.
(C) Whoever commits a violation of this section that 
involves a nuisance dog is guilty of a minor misdemeanor on the 
first offense and of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on each 
subsequent offense involving the same dog. Additionally, the 
court may order the offender to personally supervise the 
nuisance dog that the offender owns, keeps, or harbors, to cause 
that dog to complete dog obedience training, or to do both.
(D) Whoever commits a violation of this section that 
involves a dangerous dog is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third 
degree on a first offense and of a misdemeanor of the second 
degree on each subsequent offense. Additionally, the court may 
order the offender to do any of the following:
(1) Personally supervise the dangerous dog that the 
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1215 S. B. No. 185 Page 43
As Introduced
offender owns, keeps, or harbors;
(2) Cause that dog to complete dog obedience training;
(3) Obtain liability insurance in an amount, exclusive of 
interest and costs, that equals or exceeds one hundred thousand 
dollars.
The court, in the alternative, may order the dangerous dog 
to be humanely destroyed by a licensed veterinarian, the county 
dog warden, or the county humane society at the owner's expense.
Until the court makes a final determination and during the 
pendency of any appeal and at the discretion of the dog warden, 
the dog shall be confined or restrained in accordance with 
division (A) of section 955.24 of the Revised Code or at the 
county dog pound at the owner's expense.
(E) Whoever commits a violation of this section that 
involves a vicious dog is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second 
degree on a first offense and of a misdemeanor of the first 
degree on each subsequent offense. Additionally, the court shall 
order the offender to do all of the following:
(1) Personally supervise the vicious dog that the offender 
owns, keeps, or harbors;
(2) Cause that dog to complete dog obedience training;
(3) Obtain liability insurance in an amount, exclusive of 
interest and costs, that equals or exceeds one hundred thousand 
dollars.
The court, in the alternative, may order the vicious dog 
to be humanely destroyed by a licensed veterinarian, the county 
dog warden, or the county humane society at the owner's expense.
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1242 S. B. No. 185 Page 44
As Introduced
Until the court makes a final determination and during the 
pendency of any appeal and at the discretion of the dog warden, 
the dog shall be confined or restrained in accordance with 
division (A) of section 955.24 of the Revised Code or at the 
county dog pound at the owner's expense.
Sec. 955.22.  (A) As used in this section and section  
955.23 of the Revised Code:
(1) "Vicious dog act" means one of the following actions 
committed by a dog without provocation, other than by a police 
dog that is being used to assist one or more law enforcement 
officers in the performance of their official duties:
(a) The killing of any person;
(b) Causing serious injury to any person by physical 
contact;
(c) Engaging in a dangerous dog act after the dog has been 
designated as a dangerous dog under section 955.23 of the 
Revised Code.
(2) "Dangerous dog act" means one of the following actions 
committed by a dog without provocation, other than by a police 
dog that is being used to assist one or more law enforcement 
officers in the performance of their official duties:
(a) Causing injury by physical contact, other than killing 
or serious injury, to any person;
(b) The killing of another dog or livestock;
(c) Causing serious injury to another dog or livestock 
that results in euthanasia of the animal by a person authorized 
to perform euthanasia under Ohio law.
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1269 S. B. No. 185 Page 45
As Introduced
(3) "Nuisance dog act" means one of the following actions 
committed by a dog without provocation and while off the 
premises of its owner, keeper, or harborer, other than by a 
police dog that is being used to assist one or more law 
enforcement officers in the performance of their official 
duties:
(a) Chasing or approaching a person in either a menacing 
fashion or an apparent attitude of attack;
(b) Attempting to bite or otherwise endanger any person;
(c) Causing injury without making physical contact;
(d) Chasing, threatening, harassing, or injuring another 
dog or livestock;
(e) Having been the subject of a third or subsequent 
violation of section 955.21 of the Revised Code.
(4) "Serious injury" means any of the following:
(a) Any physical harm that carries a substantial risk of 
death;
(b) Any physical harm that involves a permanent 
incapacity, whether partial or total, or a temporary, 
substantial incapacity;
(c) Any physical harm that involves a permanent 
disfigurement or a temporary, serious disfigurement;
(d) Any physical harm that involves acute pain of a 
duration that results in substantial suffering or any degree of 
prolonged or intractable pain.
(5) "Without provocation" means that a dog was not teased, 
tormented, or abused by a person, or that the dog was not coming 
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1296 S. B. No. 185 Page 46
As Introduced
to the aid or the defense of a person who was not engaged in 
illegal or criminal activity and who was not using the dog as a 
means of carrying out such activity.
(B)(1) No owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog shall 
negligently fail to prevent the dog from committing a vicious 
dog act. Whoever violates this division is guilty of a 
misdemeanor of the third degree on a first offense and a 
misdemeanor of the second degree on each subsequent offense.
(2) No owner, keeper, or harborer of a dangerous or 
vicious dog shall negligently fail to prevent the dog from 
committing a vicious dog act that involves injuring or killing a 
person. Whoever violates this division is guilty of a felony of 
the third degree.
(C)(1) No owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog shall 
negligently fail to prevent the dog from committing a dangerous 
dog act. Whoever violates this division is guilty of a 
misdemeanor of the fourth degree on a first offense and a 
misdemeanor of the third degree on each subsequent offense.
(2) No owner, keeper, or harborer of a dangerous or 
vicious dog shall negligently fail to prevent the dog from 
committing a dangerous dog act that involves injuring a person. 
Whoever violates this division is guilty of a felony of the 
fifth degree.
(D) No owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog shall 
negligently fail to prevent the dog from committing a nuisance 
dog act. Whoever violates this division is guilty a minor 
misdemeanor on a first offense and a misdemeanor of the fourth 
degree on each subsequent offense.
(E) In addition to any other penalty described under this 
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1325 S. B. No. 185 Page 47
As Introduced
section, and except as provided in division (F) of this section, 
the court may order the dog that is the subject of an offense 
under this section to be humanely destroyed by a licensed 
veterinarian, the county dog warden, or the county humane 
society at the owner's expense.
(F) In addition to any other penalty described under this 
section, the court shall order the dog that is the subject of an 
offense under this section to be humanely destroyed by a 
licensed veterinarian, the county dog warden, or the county 
humane society at the owner's expense if, as a result of the 
offense, the dog kills or causes serious injury to a person.
Sec. 955.222 955.23. (A) The municipal court or county 
court that has territorial jurisdiction over the residence of 
the owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog shall conduct any 
hearing concerning the designation of the dog as a nuisance dog, 
dangerous dog, or vicious dog.
(B) (A)(1) If a person who is authorized to enforce this 
chapter has reasonable probable cause to believe that a dog in 
the person's jurisdiction is a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or 
vicious doghas committed a dangerous dog act or vicious dog act , 
the person shall notify the owner, keeper, or harborer of that 
dog, by certified mail or in person, of both of the following:
(1) That the person has designated the dog a nuisance dog, 
dangerous dog, or vicious dog, as applicable;
(2) That the owner, keeper, or harborer of the dog may 
request a hearing regarding the designation in accordance with 
this section. The notice shall include instructions for filing a 
request for a hearing in the county in which the dog's owner, 
keeper, or harborer resides petition the municipal court or 
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1354 S. B. No. 185 Page 48
As Introduced
county court that has territorial jurisdiction over the location 
where the alleged act occurred to hold a hearing to determine 
whether the court shall issue an order designating the dog as a 
dangerous or vicious dog, as applicable, in accordance with this 
section.
(2) If a person who is authorized to enforce this chapter 
has probable cause to believe that a dog in the person's 
jurisdiction has committed a nuisance dog act, the person may 
petition the municipal court or county court that has 
territorial jurisdiction over the location where the alleged act 
occurred to hold a hearing to determine whether the court shall 
issue an order designating the dog as a nuisance dog in 
accordance with this section.
(B) Probable cause may be supported by one or more written 
statements of a witness describing the incident or incidents in 
which the witness saw the dog engage in a nuisance dog act, a 
dangerous dog act, or a vicious dog act .
(C) If the owner, keeper, or harborer of the dog disagrees 
with the designation of the dog as a nuisance dog, dangerous 
dog, or vicious dog, as applicable, the owner, keeper, or 
harborerThe court, not later than ten days after receiving 
notification of the designation the petition described in 
division (A) of this section , may request a hearing regarding 
the determination. The request for a hearing shall be in writing 
and shall be filed with the municipal court or county court that 
has territorial jurisdiction over the residence of the dog's 
owner, keeper, or harborer shall hold the hearing and, at the 
conclusion of the hearing, issue a final determination 
concerning whether the dog shall be designated a nuisance, 
dangerous, or vicious dog . At the hearing, the person who 
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1384 S. B. No. 185 Page 49
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designated the dog as a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious 
dog petitioned the court has the burden of proving, by clear and 
convincing evidence, that the dog is a nuisance dog, dangerous 
dog, or vicious dogcommitted a nuisance dog act, dangerous dog 
act, or vicious dog act .
(D) The owner, keeper, or harborer of the dog or the 
person who designated the dog as a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, 
or vicious dog petitioned the court may appeal the court's final 
determination as in any other case filed in that court.
(D) A court, upon motion of an owner, keeper, or harborer 
or an attorney representing the owner, keeper, or harborer, may 
order that the dog designated as a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, 
or vicious dog (E)(1) If the dog warden determines that it is 
safe to have the dog remain in the custody of the dog's owner, 
keeper, or harborer, the dog shall be held in the possession of 
the owner, keeper, or harborer until the court makes a final 
determination under this section or during the pendency of an 
appeal, as applicable. Until the court makes a final 
determination and during the pendency of any appeal, the dog 
shall be confined or restrained in accordance with the 
provisions of division (D)(A) of section 955.22 955.24 of the 
Revised Code that apply to dangerous dogs regardless of whether 
the dog has been designated as a vicious dog or a nuisance dog 
rather than a dangerous dog . The owner, keeper, or harborer of 
the dog shall not be required to comply with any other 
requirements established in the Revised Code that concern a 
nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious dog, as applicable, 
until the court makes a final determination and during the 
pendency of any appeal .
(2) If the dog warden determines that it is not safe to 
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1414 S. B. No. 185 Page 50
As Introduced
have the dog remain in the custody of the dog's owner, keeper, 
or harborer after the commission of the alleged nuisance dog 
act, dangerous dog act, or vicious dog act and during the 
pendency of a court's determination or appeal under this 
section, the dog shall be held in the custody of the dog warden. 
While the dog is being so held, the cost of the holding is the 
responsibility of the dog's owner, keeper, or harborer. However, 
the dog's owner, keeper, or harborer shall not be responsible 
for such costs if the court does not determine that the dog be 
designated as a nuisance, dangerous, or vicious dog .
(E) If a dog is finally determined under this section, or 
on appeal as described in this section, to be a vicious dog, 
division (D) of section 955.11 and divisions (D) to (I) of 
section 955.22 of the Revised Code apply with respect to the dog 
and the owner, keeper, or harborer of the dog as if the dog were 
a dangerous dog, and section 955.54 of the Revised Code applies 
with respect to the dog as if it were a dangerous dog, and the 
court shall issue an order that specifies that those provisions 
apply with respect to the dog and the owner, keeper, or harborer 
in that manner. As part of the order, the court shall require 
the owner, keeper, or harborer to obtain the liability insurance 
required under division (E)(1) of section 955.22 of the Revised 
Code in an amount described in division (H)(2) of section 955.99 
of the Revised Code.
(F) As used in this section, "nuisance dog," "dangerous 
dog," and "vicious dog" have the same meanings as in section 
955.11 of the Revised Code.
(F)(1) Except as provided in division (F)(2) of this 
section, the court may order a dog that is designated in 
accordance with this section to be humanely destroyed by a 
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1444 S. B. No. 185 Page 51
As Introduced
licensed veterinarian, the county dog warden, or the county 
humane society at the owner's expense.
(2) The court shall order a dog that is designated in 
accordance with this section to be humanely destroyed by a 
licensed veterinarian, the county dog warden, or the county 
humane society at the owner's expense if the court determines 
that the dog killed or caused serious injury to a person.
(G) If the dog that is the subject of a hearing under this 
section is also the subject of a criminal proceeding for a 
violation of section 955.22 of the Revised Code arising out of 
the same event, the court shall conduct the hearing under this 
section and the criminal proceeding concurrently.
Sec. 955.22 955.24. (A) As used in this section, 
"dangerous dog" has the same meaning as in section 955.11 of the 
Revised Code. 
(B) No owner, keeper, or harborer of any female dog shall 
permit it to go beyond the premises of the owner, keeper, or 
harborer at any time the dog is in heat unless the dog is 
properly in leash.
(C) Except when a dog is lawfully engaged in hunting and 
accompanied by the owner, keeper, harborer, or handler of the 
dog, no owner, keeper, or harborer of any dog shall fail at any 
time to do either of the following:
(1) Keep the dog physically confined or restrained upon 
the premises of the owner, keeper, or harborer by a leash, 
tether, adequate fence, supervision, or secure enclosure to 
prevent escape;
(2) Keep the dog under the reasonable control of some 
person.
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1473 S. B. No. 185 Page 52
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(D) Except when a dangerous dog is lawfully engaged in 
hunting or training for the purpose of hunting and is 
accompanied by the owner, keeper, harborer, or handler of the 
dog, no No owner, keeper, or harborer of a vicious or dangerous 
dog shall recklessly fail to do either of the following:
(1) While that dog is on the premises of the owner, 
keeper, or harborer, securely confine it at all times in a 
locked pen that has a top, locked fenced yard with fencing that 
is sufficiently constructed to prevent escape , or other locked 
enclosure that has a top;
(2) While that dog is off the premises of the owner, 
keeper, or harborer, keep that dog on a chain-link leash or 
tether that is not more than six feet in length and additionally 
do at least one of the following:
(a) Keep that dog in a locked pen that has a top, locked 
fenced yard with fencing that is sufficiently constructed to 
prevent escape, or other locked enclosure that has a top;
(b) Have the leash or tether controlled by a person who is 
of suitable age and discretion or securely attach, tie, or affix 
the leash or tether to the ground or a stationary object or 
fixture so that the dog is adequately restrained and station 
such a person in close enough proximity to that dog so as to 
prevent it from causing injury to any person;
(c) Muzzle that dog.
(E)(B) No person who has been convicted of or pleaded 
guilty to three or more violations of division (C) of this 
section involving the same dog and no owner, keeper, or harborer 
of a vicious or dangerous dog shall recklessly fail to do any of 
the following:
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1502 S. B. No. 185 Page 53
As Introduced
(1) Obtain liability insurance with an insurer authorized 
to write liability insurance in this state providing coverage in 
each occurrence because of damage or bodily injury to or death 
of a person caused by the vicious or dangerous dog if so ordered 
by a court and provide proof of that liability insurance upon 
request to any law enforcement officer, county dog warden, or 
public health official charged with enforcing this section;
(2) Obtain a dangerous dog registration certificate from 
the county auditor pursuant to division (I) of this section, 
affix a tag that identifies the dog as a dangerous dog to the 
dog's collar, and ensure that the dog wears the collar and tag 
at all times;
(3) Notify the local dog warden immediately if any of the 
following occurs:
(a) The dog is loose or unconfined.
(b) The dog bites a person, unless the dog is on the 
property of the owner of the dog, and the person who is bitten 
is unlawfully trespassing or committing a criminal act within 
the boundaries of that property.
(c) The dog attacks another animal while the dog is off 
the property of the owner of the dog.
(4)(3) If the dog is sold, given to another person, or 
dies, notify the county auditor and the dog warden within ten 
days of the sale, transfer, or death.
(F)(C) No person shall recklessly do any of the following:
(1) Debark or surgically silence a dog that the person 
knows or has reason to believe is a vicious or dangerous dog;
(2) Possess a vicious or dangerous dog if the person knows 
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1530 S. B. No. 185 Page 54
As Introduced
or has reason to believe that the dog has been debarked or 
surgically silenced;
(3) Falsely attest on a waiver form provided by the 
veterinarian under division (G) of this section that the 
person's dog is not a vicious or dangerous dog or otherwise 
provide false information on that written waiver form.
(G)(D) Before a veterinarian debarks or surgically 
silences a dog, the veterinarian may give the owner of the dog a 
written waiver form that attests that the dog is not a vicious 
or dangerous dog. The written waiver form shall include all of 
the following:
(1) The veterinarian's license number and current business 
address;
(2) The number of the license of the dog if the dog is 
licensed;
(3) A reasonable description of the age, coloring, and 
gender of the dog as well as any notable markings on the dog;
(4) The signature of the owner of the dog attesting that 
the owner's dog is not a dangerous dog;
(5) A statement that division (F) of section 955.22 of the 
Revised Code Ohio law prohibits any person from doing any of the 
following:
(a) Debarking or surgically silencing a dog that the 
person knows or has reason to believe is a vicious or dangerous 
dog;
(b) Possessing a vicious or dangerous dog if the person 
knows or has reason to believe that the dog has been debarked or 
surgically silenced;
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1558 S. B. No. 185 Page 55
As Introduced
(c) Falsely attesting on a waiver form provided by the 
veterinarian under division (G) of section 955.22 of the Revised 
Code that the person's dog is not a vicious or dangerous dog or 
otherwise provide false information on that written waiver form.
(H)(E) It is an affirmative defense to a charge of a 
violation of division (F)(C) of this section that the 
veterinarian who is charged with the violation obtained, prior 
to debarking or surgically silencing the dog, a written waiver 
form that complies with division (G) of this section and that 
attests that the dog is not a vicious or dangerous dog.
(I)(1) The county auditor shall issue a dangerous dog 
registration certificate to a person who is the owner of a dog, 
who is eighteen years of age or older, and who provides the 
following to the county auditor:
(a) A fee of fifty dollars;
(b) The person's address, phone number, and other 
appropriate means for the local dog warden or county auditor to 
contact the person;
(c) With respect to the person and the dog for which the 
registration is sought, all of the following:
(i) Either satisfactory evidence of the dog's current 
rabies vaccination or a statement from a licensed veterinarian 
that a rabies vaccination is medically contraindicated for the 
dog;
(ii) Either satisfactory evidence of the fact that the dog 
has been neutered or spayed or a statement from a licensed 
veterinarian that neutering or spaying of the dog is medically 
contraindicated;
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1586 S. B. No. 185 Page 56
As Introduced
(iii) Satisfactory evidence of the fact that the person 
has posted and will continue to post clearly visible signs at 
the person's residence warning both minors and adults of the 
presence of a dangerous dog on the property;
(iv) Satisfactory evidence of the fact that the dog has 
been permanently identified by means of a microchip and the 
dog's microchip number.
(2) Upon the issuance of a dangerous dog registration 
certificate to the owner of a dog, the county auditor shall 
provide the owner with a uniformly designed tag that identifies 
the animal as a dangerous dog. The owner shall renew the 
certificate annually for the same fee and in the same manner as 
the initial certificate was obtained. If a certificate holder 
relocates to a new county, the certificate holder shall follow 
the procedure in division (I)(3)(b) of this section and, upon 
the expiration of the certificate issued in the original county, 
shall renew the certificate in the new county.
(3)(a) If the owner of a dangerous dog for whom a 
registration certificate has previously been obtained relocates 
to a new address within the same county, the owner shall provide 
notice of the new address to the county auditor within ten days 
of relocating to the new address.
(b) If the owner of a dangerous dog for whom a 
registration certificate has previously been obtained relocates 
to a new address within another county, the owner shall do both 
of the following within ten days of relocating to the new 
address:
(i) Provide written notice of the new address and a copy 
of the original dangerous dog registration certificate to the 
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1615 S. B. No. 185 Page 57
As Introduced
county auditor of the new county;
(ii) Provide written notice of the new address to the 
county auditor of the county where the owner previously resided.
(4) The owner of a dangerous dog shall present the 
dangerous dog registration certificate upon being requested to 
do so by any law enforcement officer, dog warden, or public 
health official charged with enforcing this section.
(5) The fees collected pursuant to this division shall be 
deposited in the dog and kennel fund of the county.
(F)(1) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is 
guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on a first offense 
and of a misdemeanor of the third degree on each subsequent 
offense. Additionally, the court may order the offender to do 
any of the following:
(a) Personally supervise the vicious or dangerous dog that 
the offender owns, keeps, or harbors;
(b) Cause the dog to complete dog obedience training;
(c) Order the offender to obtain liability insurance 
pursuant to this section.
(2) The court, in the alternative, may order the vicious 
or dangerous dog to be humanely destroyed by a licensed 
veterinarian, the county dog warden, or the county humane 
society at the owner's expense.
(G) Whoever violates division (B) of this section is 
guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(H) Whoever violates division (C)(1), (2), or (3) of this 
section is guilty of a felony of the fourth degree. 
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1642 S. B. No. 185 Page 58
As Introduced
Additionally, the court shall order that the dog involved in the 
violation be humanely destroyed by a licensed veterinarian, the 
county dog warden, or the county humane society. Until the court 
makes a final determination and during the pendency of any 
appeal of a violation of division (C)(1), (2), or (3) of this 
section and at the discretion of the dog warden, the dog shall 
be confined or restrained in accordance with the provisions of 
division (A) of this section or at the county dog pound at the 
owner's expense.
Sec. 955.26. (A) Whenever, in the judgment of the director 
of health, any city or general health district board of health, 
or persons performing the duties of a board of health, rabies is 
prevalent, the director of health, the board, or those persons 
shall declare a quarantine of all dogs in the health district or 
in a part of it. During the quarantine, the owner, keeper, or 
harborer of any dog shall keep it confined on the premises of 
the owner, keeper, or harborer, or in a pound, kennel, or other 
suitable place, at the expense of the owner, keeper, or 
harborer, except that a dog may be permitted to leave the 
premises of its owner, keeper, or harborer if it is under leash 
or under the control of a responsible person. The quarantine 
order shall be considered an emergency and need not be 
published. 
(B) When the quarantine has been declared, the director of 
health, the board, or those persons may require vaccination for 
rabies of all dogs within the health district or part of it. 
Proof of rabies vaccination within a satisfactory period shall 
be demonstrated to the county auditor before any registration is 
issued under section 955.01 955.02 of the Revised Code for any 
dog that is required to be vaccinated.
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1672 S. B. No. 185 Page 59
As Introduced
(C) The director shall determine appropriate methods of 
rabies vaccination and satisfactory periods for purposes of 
quarantines under this section.
(D) When a quarantine of dogs has been declared in any 
health district or part of a health district, the county dog 
warden and all other persons having the authority of police 
officers shall assist the health authorities in enforcing the 
quarantine order. When rabies vaccination has been declared 
compulsory in any health district or part of a health district, 
the dog warden shall assist the health authorities in enforcing 
the vaccination order.
(E) Notwithstanding this section, a city or general health 
district board of health may make orders pursuant to sections 
3709.20 and 3709.21 of the Revised Code requiring the 
vaccination of dogs.
(F) No person shall recklessly violate a rabies quarantine 
order issued under this section.
(G) Whoever violates division (F) of this section is 
guilty of a minor misdemeanor on a first offense and of a 
misdemeanor of the fourth degree on each subsequent offense.
Sec. 955.261. (A)(1) No person shall remove a dog that has 
bitten any person from the county in which the bite occurred 
until a quarantine period as specified in division (B) of this 
section has been completed. No person shall transfer a dog that 
has bitten any person until a quarantine period as specified in 
division (B) of this section has been completed, except that a 
person may transfer the dog to the county dog warden or to any 
other animal control authority.
(2)(a) Subject to division (A)(2)(b) of this section, no 
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1701 S. B. No. 185 Page 60
As Introduced
person shall kill a dog that has bitten any person until a 
quarantine period as specified in division (B) of this section 
has been completed.
(b) Division (A)(2)(a) of this section does not apply to 
the killing of a dog in order to prevent further injury or death 
or if the dog is diseased or seriously injured.
(3) No person who has killed a dog that has bitten any 
person in order to prevent further injury or death or if the dog 
is diseased or seriously injured shall fail to do both of the 
following:
(a) Immediately after the killing of the dog, notify the 
board of health for the district in which the bite occurred of 
the facts relative to the bite and the killing;
(b) Hold the body of the dog until that board of health 
claims it to perform tests for rabies.
(B) The quarantine period for a dog that has bitten any 
person shall be ten days or another period that the board of 
health for the district in which the bite occurred determines is 
necessary to observe the dog for rabies.
(C)(1) To enable persons to comply with the quarantine 
requirements specified in divisions (A) and (B) of this section, 
boards of health shall make provision for the quarantine of 
individual dogs under the circumstances described in those 
divisions.
(2) Upon the receipt of a notification pursuant to 
division (A)(3) of this section that a dog that has bitten any 
person has been killed, the board of health for the district in 
which the bite occurred shall claim the body of the dog from its 
killer and then perform tests on the body for rabies.
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1730 S. B. No. 185 Page 61
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(D) This section does not apply to a police dog that has 
bitten a person while the police dog is under the care of a 
licensed veterinarian or has bitten a person while the police 
dog is being used for law enforcement, corrections, prison or 
jail security, or investigative purposes. If, after biting a 
person, a police dog exhibits any abnormal behavior, the law 
enforcement agency and the law enforcement officer the police 
dog assists, within a reasonable time after the person is 
bitten, shall make the police dog available for the board of 
health for the district in which the bite occurred to perform 
tests for rabies.
(E) As used in this section, "police dog" has the same 
meaning as in section 2921.321 of the Revised Code Whoever 
recklessly violates this section is guilty of a minor 
misdemeanor on a first offense and of a misdemeanor of the 
fourth degree on each subsequent offense .
Sec. 955.40 955.262. Any corporation which violates 
section 955.39 955.26 of the Revised Code shall forfeit and pay 
to the municipal corporation a sum not to exceed three hundred 
dollars, to be collected in a civil action brought in the name 
of the municipal corporation.
The judgment authorized in this section being in the 
nature of a penalty, or exemplary damages, no proof of actual 
damages shall be required, but the court or jury, finding other 
facts to justify recovery, shall determine the amount by 
reference to all the facts, culpatory, exculpatory, or 
extenuating, adduced at the trial.
Sec. 955.43. (A) As used in this section, "institutions of 
education" means any of the following:
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1759 S. B. No. 185 Page 62
As Introduced
(1) Any state university or college as defined in section 
3345.32 of the Revised Code;
(2) Any private college or university that holds a 
certificate of authorization issued by the Ohio board of regents 
pursuant to Chapter 1713. of the Revised Code;
(3) Any elementary or secondary school operated by a board 
of education;
(4) Any chartered or nonchartered nonpublic elementary or 
secondary school;
(5) Any school issued a certificate of registration by the 
state board of career colleges and schools.
(B) When a person who is blind, deaf, or hearing impaired, 
a person with a mobility impairment, or a trainer of an 
assistance dog is accompanied by an assistance dog, the person 
or trainer, as applicable, is entitled to the full and equal 
accommodations, advantages, facilities, and privileges of all 
public conveyances, hotels, lodging places, all places of public 
accommodation, amusement, or resort, all institutions of 
education, and other places to which the general public is 
invited, and may take the dog into such conveyances and places, 
subject only to the conditions and limitations applicable to all 
persons not so accompanied, except that:
(1) The dog shall not occupy a seat in any public 
conveyance.
(2) The dog shall be upon a leash while using the 
facilities of a common carrier.
(3) Any dog in training to become an assistance dog shall 
be covered by a liability insurance policy provided by the 
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1787 S. B. No. 185 Page 63
As Introduced
nonprofit special agency engaged in such work protecting members 
of the public against personal injury or property damage caused 
by the dog.
(B) (C) No person shall recklessly deprive a person who is 
blind, deaf, or hearing impaired, a person who has a mobility 
impairment, or a trainer of an assistance dog when the person or 
trainer, as applicable, is accompanied by an assistance dog of 
any of the advantages, facilities, or privileges provided in 
division (A)(B) of this section, and no person shall charge the 
person or trainer a fee or charge for the dog .
(D) Whoever violates division (C) of this section is 
guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree .
(C) As used in this section, "institutions of education" 
means:
(1) Any state university or college as defined in section 
3345.32 of the Revised Code;
(2) Any private college or university that holds a 
certificate of authorization issued by the Ohio board of regents 
pursuant to Chapter 1713. of the Revised Code;
(3) Any elementary or secondary school operated by a board 
of education;
(4) Any chartered or nonchartered nonpublic elementary or 
secondary school;
(5) Any school issued a certificate of registration by the 
state board of career colleges and schools.
Sec. 955.44. All fines collected for violations of 
sections 955.02, 955.09, 955.10, 955.11, 955.21955.12, 
955.22955.21, 955.24, 955.23, 955.25, and 955.261 of the Revised 
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1815 S. B. No. 185 Page 64
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Code shall be deposited in the county treasury to the credit of 
the dog and kennel fund.
Sec. 955.50. (A) No person shall sell, offer to sell, or 
expose for sale, for the purpose of resale or receive for 
delivery within this state, or ship from any point within this 
state to any point outside this state, for sale to the general 
public at retail, any dog under the age of eight weeks.
(B) No person shall receive from outside this state, or 
ship from any point within this state to any point outside this 
state, for sale to the general public at retail, any dog that is 
not accompanied by a certificate, issued by a licensed 
veterinarian who is accredited by the United States department 
of agriculture and authorized to issue health certificates for 
animals in interstate commerce, certifying that the dog is 
sufficiently sound and healthy to be reasonably expected to 
withstand the intended transportation without adverse effect.
(C) This section does not apply to the transportation of 
dogs in interstate commerce by common carrier, provided that 
neither the point of shipment nor the point of receiving is 
within this state.
(D) No person responsible for the transportation of a 
pregnant dog to any point within this state or from any point 
within this state to any point outside this state shall be 
liable in damages for any injury to or illness of, or the death 
of, the dog or any puppies, whenevr whenever the injury, 
illness, or death results from the birth of such puppies during 
the time the dog is being transported.
(E) Whoever recklessly violates this section is guilty of 
a minor misdemeanor on a first offense and of a misdemeanor of 
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the fourth degree on each subsequent offense.
Sec. 955.54. (A) No person who is convicted of or pleads 
guilty to a felony offense of violence committed on or after the 
effective date of this section May 22, 2012, or a felony 
violation of any provision of Chapter 959., 2923., or 2925. of 
the Revised Code committed on or after the effective date of 
this section May 22, 2012, shall knowingly own, possess, have 
custody of, or reside in a residence with either any of the 
following for a period of three years commencing either upon the 
date of release of the person from any period of incarceration 
imposed for the offense or violation or, if the person is not 
incarcerated for the offense or violation, upon the date of that 
the person's final release from the other sanctions imposed for 
person plead guilty to or was convicted of the offense or 
violation: 
(1) An unspayed or unneutered dog older than twelve weeks 
of age;
(2) Any dog that has been determined to be a dangerous dog 
or vicious dog under Chapter 955. of the Revised Code ;
(3) Any dog that does not have a permanently implanted 
microchip that has an identification number that is unique to 
the microchip.
(B) A person described in division (A) of this section 
shall microchip for permanent identification any dog owned, 
possessed by, or in the custody of the person.
(C)(1) Division (A) of this section does not apply to any 
person who is confined in a correctional institution of the 
department of rehabilitation and correction.
(2) Division (A) of this section does not apply to any 
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1873 S. B. No. 185 Page 66
As Introduced
person with respect to any dog that the person owned, possessed, 
had custody of, or resided in a residence with prior to the 
effective date of this section May 22, 2012. 
(C) Whoever recklessly violates this section is guilty of 
a misdemeanor of the first degree.
Sec. 955.60.  (A) Any person authorized to enforce this  
chapter shall investigate any complaint that indicates a 
possible violation of any provision of this chapter involving a 
dog.
(B) If, after investigating an alleged violation of this 
chapter under division (A) of this section, an authorized person 
does not cite a person for or charge a person with a violation, 
the authorized person shall notify, in accordance with division 
(C) of this section, the owner, keeper, or harborer of the dog 
that there has been a complaint regarding the dog and that the 
authorized person investigated a possible violation. The notice 
shall specify both of the following:
(1) A citation to the applicable provision or provisions 
of law at issue;
(2) Contact information for the authorized person.
(C) The authorized person shall post the notice on the 
door of the dwelling at which the dog resides within twenty-four 
hours after the authorized person concludes the investigation.
Sec. 959.132. (A) As used in this section:
"Companion animal" has the same meaning as in section 
959.131 of the Revised Code.
"Impounding agency" means a county humane society 
organized under section 1717.05 of the Revised Code, an animal 
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1901 S. B. No. 185 Page 67
As Introduced
shelter, or a law enforcement agency that has impounded a 
companion animal in accordance with this section.
"Offense" means a violation of Chapter 959. of the Revised 
Code or an attempt, in violation of section 2923.02 of the 
Revised Code, to violate Chapter 959. of the Revised Code.
"Officer" means any law enforcement officer, humane 
society agent, or other person appointed to act as an animal 
control officer for a municipal corporation or township in 
accordance with state law, an ordinance, or a resolution.
(B) An officer may seize and cause to be impounded at an 
impounding agency an animal that the officer has probable cause 
to believe is the subject of an offense. No officer or 
impounding agency shall impound an animal that is the subject of 
an offense in a shelter owned, operated, or controlled by a 
board of county commissioners pursuant to Chapter 955. of the 
Revised Code unless the board, by resolution, authorizes the 
impoundment of such an animal in a shelter owned, operated, or 
controlled by that board and has executed, in the case when the 
officer is other than a dog warden or assistant dog warden, a 
contract specifying the terms and conditions of the impoundment.
(C) The officer shall give written notice of the seizure 
and impoundment to the owner, keeper, or harborer of the animal 
not later than twenty-four hours after the animal was seized and 
impounded. If the officer is unable to give the notice to the 
owner, keeper, or harborer of the animal, the officer shall post 
the notice on the door of the residence or in another 
conspicuous place on the premises at which the animal was 
seized. The notice shall include a statement that a hearing will 
be held not later than ten days after the notice is provided or 
at the next available court date to determine whether the 
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1931 S. B. No. 185 Page 68
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officer had probable cause to seize the animal and, if 
applicable, to determine the amount of a bond or cash deposit 
that is needed to provide for the animal's care and keeping for 
not less than thirty days beginning on the date on which the 
animal was impounded.
(D) An animal that is seized under this section may be 
humanely destroyed immediately or at any time during impoundment 
if a licensed veterinarian determines it to be necessary because 
the animal is suffering.
(E)(1) Not later than ten days after notice is provided or 
at the next available court date, the court shall hold a hearing 
to determine whether the officer impounding an animal had 
probable cause to seize the animal. If the court determines that 
probable cause exists, the court shall determine the amount of a 
bond or cash deposit that is necessary and reasonable to provide 
for the animal's care and keeping for not less than thirty days 
beginning on the date on which the animal was impounded.
(2) If the court determines that probable cause does not 
exist, the court immediately shall order the impounding agency 
to return the animal to its owner if possible. If the animal 
cannot be returned because it has died as a result of neglect or 
other misconduct by the impounding agency or if the animal is 
injured as a result of neglect or other misconduct by the 
impounding agency, the court shall order the impounding agency 
to pay the owner an amount determined by the court to be equal 
to the reasonable market value of the animal at the time that it 
was impounded plus statutory interest as defined in section 
1343.03 of the Revised Code from the date of the impoundment or 
an amount determined by the court to be equal to the reasonable 
cost of treatment of the injury to the animal, as applicable. 
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1961 S. B. No. 185 Page 69
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The requirement established in division (E)(2) of this section 
regarding the payment of the reasonable market value of the 
animal shall not apply in the case of a dog that, in violation 
of section 955.01 955.02 of the Revised Code, was not registered 
at the time it was seized and impounded.
(3) If the court determines that probable cause exists and 
determines the amount of a bond or cash deposit, the case shall 
continue and the owner shall post a bond or cash deposit to 
provide for the animal's care and keeping for not less than 
thirty days beginning on the date on which the animal was 
impounded. The owner may renew a bond or cash deposit by 
posting, not later than ten days following the expiration of the 
period for which a previous bond or cash deposit was posted, a 
new bond or cash deposit in an amount that the court, in 
consultation with the impounding agency, determines is necessary 
and reasonable to provide for the animal's care and keeping for 
not less than thirty days beginning on the date on which the 
previous period expired. If no bond or cash deposit is posted or 
if a bond or cash deposit expires and is not renewed, the 
impounding agency may determine the disposition of the animal 
unless the court issues an order that specifies otherwise.
(F) If a person is convicted of committing an offense, the 
court may impose the following additional penalties against the 
person:
(1) A requirement that the person pay for the costs 
incurred by the impounding agency in caring for an animal 
involved in the applicable offense, provided that the costs were 
incurred during the animal's impoundment. A bond or cash deposit 
posted under this section may be applied to the costs.
(2) An order permanently terminating the person's right to 
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1991 S. B. No. 185 Page 70
As Introduced
possession, title, custody, or care of the animal that was 
involved in the offense. If the court issues such an order, the 
court shall order the disposition of the animal.
(G) If a person is found not guilty of committing an 
offense, the court immediately shall order the impounding agency 
to return the animal to its owner if possible and to return the 
entire amount of any bond or cash deposit posted under division 
(E) of this section. If the animal cannot be returned because it 
has died as a result of neglect or other misconduct by the 
impounding agency or if the animal is injured as a result of 
neglect or other misconduct by the impounding agency, the court 
shall order the impounding agency to pay the owner an amount 
determined by the court to be equal to the reasonable market 
value of the animal at the time that it was impounded plus 
statutory interest as defined in section 1343.03 of the Revised 
Code from the date of the impoundment or an amount determined by 
the court to be equal to the reasonable cost of treatment of the 
injury to the animal, as applicable. The requirements 
established in this division regarding the return of a bond or 
cash deposit and the payment of the reasonable market value of 
the animal shall not apply in the case of a dog that, in 
violation of section 955.01 955.02 of the Revised Code, was not 
registered at the time it was seized and impounded.
(H) If charges are filed under section 959.131 of the 
Revised Code against the custodian or caretaker of a companion 
animal, but the companion animal that is the subject of the 
charges is not impounded, the court in which the charges are 
pending may order the owner or person having custody of the 
companion animal to provide to the companion animal the 
necessities described in division (D)(2), (D)(3), (E)(2), (E)
(3), (F)(2), or (F)(3) of section 959.131 of the Revised Code 
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2022 S. B. No. 185 Page 71
As Introduced
until the final disposition of the charges. If the court issues 
an order of that nature, the court also may authorize an officer 
or another person to visit the place where the companion animal 
is being kept, at the times and under the conditions that the 
court may set, to determine whether the companion animal is 
receiving those necessities and to remove and impound the 
companion animal if the companion animal is not receiving those 
necessities.
Sec. 1533.12. (A)(1) Except as otherwise provided in 
division (A)(2) of this section, every person on active duty in 
the armed forces of the United States who is stationed in this 
state and who wishes to engage in an activity for which a 
license, permit, or stamp is required under this chapter first 
shall obtain the requisite license, permit, or stamp. Such a 
person is eligible to obtain a resident hunting or fishing 
license regardless of whether the person qualifies as a resident 
of this state. To obtain a resident hunting or fishing license, 
the person shall present a card or other evidence identifying 
the person as being on active duty in the armed forces of the 
United States and as being stationed in this state.
(2) Every person on active duty in the armed forces of the 
United States, while on leave or furlough, may take or catch 
fish of the kind lawfully permitted to be taken or caught within 
the state, may hunt any wild bird or wild quadruped lawfully 
permitted to be hunted within the state, and may trap fur-
bearing animals lawfully permitted to be trapped within the 
state, without procuring a fishing license, a hunting license, a 
fur taker permit, or a wetlands habitat stamp required by this 
chapter, provided that the person shall carry on the person when 
fishing, hunting, or trapping, a card or other evidence 
identifying the person as being on active duty in the armed 
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2053 S. B. No. 185 Page 72
As Introduced
forces of the United States, and provided that the person is not 
otherwise violating any of the hunting, fishing, and trapping 
laws of this state.
In order to hunt deer or wild turkey, any such person 
shall obtain a deer or wild turkey permit, as applicable, under 
section 1533.11 of the Revised Code. Such a person is eligible 
to obtain a deer or wild turkey permit at the resident rate, 
regardless of whether the person is a resident of this state. 
However, the person need not obtain a hunting license in order 
to obtain such a permit.
(B) The chief of the division of wildlife shall provide by 
rule adopted under section 1531.10 of the Revised Code all of 
the following:
(1) Every resident of this state with a disability that 
has been determined by the veterans administration to be 
permanently and totally disabling, who receives a pension or 
compensation from the veterans administration, and who received 
an honorable discharge from the armed forces of the United 
States, and every veteran to whom the registrar of motor 
vehicles has issued a set of license plates under section 
4503.41 of the Revised Code, shall be issued a fishing license, 
hunting license, fur taker permit, deer or wild turkey permit, 
or wetlands habitat stamp, or any combination of those licenses, 
permits, and stamp, free of charge on an annual, multi-year, or 
lifetime basis as determined appropriate by the chief when 
application is made to the chief in the manner prescribed by and 
on forms provided by the chief.
(2) Every resident of the state who was born on or before 
December 31, 1937, shall be issued an annual fishing license, 
hunting license, fur taker permit, deer or wild turkey permit, 
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2083 S. B. No. 185 Page 73
As Introduced
or wetlands habitat stamp, or any combination of those licenses, 
permits, and stamp, free of charge when application is made to 
the chief in the manner prescribed by and on forms provided by 
the chief.
(3) Every resident of state or county institutions, 
charitable institutions, and military homes in this state shall 
be issued an annual fishing license free of charge when 
application is made to the chief in the manner prescribed by and 
on forms provided by the chief.
(4) As used in division (B)(4) of this section, "blind" 
and "person with a mobility impairment" have the same meanings 
as in section 955.011 955.021 of the Revised Code.
Any person with a mobility impairment or blind person who 
is a resident of this state and who is unable to engage in 
fishing without the assistance of another person shall be issued 
an annual fishing license free of charge when application is 
made to the chief in the manner prescribed by and on forms 
provided by the chief. The person who is assisting the person 
with a mobility impairment or blind person may assist in taking 
or catching fish of the kind permitted to be taken or caught 
without procuring the license required under section 1533.32 of 
the Revised Code, provided that only one line is used by both 
persons.
(5) As used in division (B)(5) of this section, "prisoner 
of war" means any regularly appointed, enrolled, enlisted, or 
inducted member of the military forces of the United States who 
was captured, separated, and incarcerated by an enemy of the 
United States.
Any person who has been a prisoner of war, was honorably 
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2112 S. B. No. 185 Page 74
As Introduced
discharged from the military forces, and is a resident of this 
state shall be issued a fishing license, hunting license, fur 
taker permit, or wetlands habitat stamp, or any combination of 
those licenses, permits, and stamp, free of charge on an annual, 
multi-year, or lifetime basis as determined appropriate by the 
chief when application is made to the chief in the manner 
prescribed by and on forms provided by the chief.
(C) The chief shall adopt rules pursuant to section 
1531.08 of the Revised Code designating not more than two days, 
which need not be consecutive, in each year as "free sport 
fishing days" on which any resident may exercise the privileges 
accorded the holder of a fishing license issued under section 
1533.32 of the Revised Code without procuring such a license, 
provided that the person is not otherwise violating any of the 
fishing laws of this state.
Sec. 1901.18. (A) Except as otherwise provided in this 
division or section 1901.181 of the Revised Code, subject to the 
monetary jurisdiction of municipal courts as set forth in 
section 1901.17 of the Revised Code, a municipal court has 
original jurisdiction within its territory in all of the 
following actions or proceedings and to perform all of the 
following functions:
(1) In any civil action, of whatever nature or remedy, of 
which judges of county courts have jurisdiction;
(2) In any action or proceeding at law for the recovery of 
money or personal property of which the court of common pleas 
has jurisdiction;
(3) In any action at law based on contract, to determine, 
preserve, and enforce all legal and equitable rights involved in 
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2141 S. B. No. 185 Page 75
As Introduced
the contract, to decree an accounting, reformation, or 
cancellation of the contract, and to hear and determine all 
legal and equitable remedies necessary or proper for a complete 
determination of the rights of the parties to the contract;
(4) In any action or proceeding for the sale of personal 
property under chattel mortgage, lien, encumbrance, or other 
charge, for the foreclosure and marshalling of liens on personal 
property of that nature, and for the rendering of personal 
judgment in the action or proceeding;
(5) In any action or proceeding to enforce the collection 
of its own judgments or the judgments rendered by any court 
within the territory to which the municipal court has succeeded, 
and to subject the interest of a judgment debtor in personal 
property to satisfy judgments enforceable by the municipal 
court;
(6) In any action or proceeding in the nature of 
interpleader;
(7) In any action of replevin;
(8) In any action of forcible entry and detainer;
(9) In any action concerning the issuance and enforcement 
of temporary protection orders pursuant to section 2919.26 of 
the Revised Code or protection orders pursuant to section 
2903.213 of the Revised Code or the enforcement of protection 
orders issued by courts of another state, as defined in section 
2919.27 of the Revised Code;
(10) If the municipal court has a housing or environmental 
division, in any action over which the division is given 
jurisdiction by section 1901.181 of the Revised Code, provided 
that, except as specified in division (B) of that section, no 
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As Introduced
judge of the court other than the judge of the division shall 
hear or determine any action over which the division has 
jurisdiction;
(11) In any action brought pursuant to division (I) of 
section 4781.40 of the Revised Code, if the residential premises 
that are the subject of the action are located within the 
territorial jurisdiction of the court;
(12) In any civil action as described in division (B)(1) 
of section 3767.41 of the Revised Code that relates to a public 
nuisance, and, to the extent any provision of this chapter 
conflicts or is inconsistent with a provision of that section, 
the provision of that section shall control in the civil action;
(13) In a proceeding brought pursuant to section 955.222 
955.23 of the Revised Code by the owner of a dog that has been 
designated as a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious dog;
(14) In every civil action concerning a violation of a 
state traffic law or a municipal traffic ordinance.
(B) The Cleveland municipal court also shall have 
jurisdiction within its territory in all of the following 
actions or proceedings and to perform all of the following 
functions:
(1) In all actions and proceedings for the sale of real 
property under lien of a judgment of the municipal court or a 
lien for machinery, material, or fuel furnished or labor 
performed, irrespective of amount, and, in those actions and 
proceedings, the court may proceed to foreclose and marshal all 
liens and all vested or contingent rights, to appoint a 
receiver, and to render personal judgment irrespective of amount 
in favor of any party.
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As Introduced
(2) In all actions for the foreclosure of a mortgage on 
real property given to secure the payment of money or the 
enforcement of a specific lien for money or other encumbrance or 
charge on real property, when the amount claimed by the 
plaintiff does not exceed fifteen thousand dollars and the real 
property is situated within the territory, and, in those 
actions, the court may proceed to foreclose all liens and all 
vested and contingent rights and may proceed to render judgments 
and make findings and orders between the parties in the same 
manner and to the same extent as in similar actions in the court 
of common pleas.
(3) In all actions for the recovery of real property 
situated within the territory to the same extent as courts of 
common pleas have jurisdiction;
(4) In all actions for injunction to prevent or terminate 
violations of the ordinances and regulations of the city of 
Cleveland enacted or promulgated under the police power of the 
city of Cleveland, pursuant to Section 3 of Article XVIII, Ohio 
Constitution, over which the court of common pleas has or may 
have jurisdiction, and, in those actions, the court may proceed 
to render judgments and make findings and orders in the same 
manner and to the same extent as in similar actions in the court 
of common pleas.
(C) As used in this section, "violation of a state traffic 
law or a municipal traffic ordinance" has the same meaning as in 
section 1901.20 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 1907.031. (A) Except as otherwise provided in section 
1907.03 of the Revised Code and in addition to the jurisdiction 
authorized in other sections of this chapter and in section 
1909.11 of the Revised Code, a county court has original 
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As Introduced
jurisdiction within its district in all of the following actions 
or proceedings and to perform all of the following functions:
(1) In an action or proceeding at law for the recovery of 
money or personal property of which the court of common pleas 
has jurisdiction;
(2) In an action at law based on contract, to determine, 
preserve, and enforce all legal and equitable rights involved in 
the contract, to decree an accounting, reformation, or 
cancellation of the contract, and to hear and determine all 
legal and equitable remedies necessary or proper for a complete 
determination of the rights of the parties to the contract;
(3) In an action or proceeding for the sale of personal 
property under chattel mortgage, lien, encumbrance, or other 
charge, for the foreclosure and marshalling of liens on the 
personal property, and for the rendering of personal judgment in 
the action or proceeding;
(4) In an action or proceeding to enforce the collection 
of its own judgments and to subject the interest of a judgment 
debtor in personal property to satisfy judgments enforceable by 
the county court;
(5) In an action or proceeding in the nature of 
interpleader;
(6) In an action of forcible entry and detainer;
(7) In a proceeding brought pursuant to section 955.222 
955.23 of the Revised Code by the owner of a dog that has been 
designated as a nuisance dog, dangerous dog, or vicious dog;
(8) In every civil action or proceeding concerning a 
violation of a state traffic law or a municipal traffic 
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2257 S. B. No. 185 Page 79
As Introduced
ordinance.
(B) A county court has original jurisdiction in civil 
actions as described in division (B)(1) of section 3767.41 of 
the Revised Code that relate to a public nuisance. To the extent 
any provision of this chapter conflicts or is inconsistent with 
a provision of that section, the provision of that section shall 
control in such a civil action.
(C) As used in this section, "violation of a state traffic 
law or a municipal traffic ordinance" has the same meaning as in 
section 1901.20 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 2913.01. As used in this chapter, unless the context 
requires that a term be given a different meaning: 
(A) "Deception" means knowingly deceiving another or 
causing another to be deceived by any false or misleading 
representation, by withholding information, by preventing 
another from acquiring information, or by any other conduct, 
act, or omission that creates, confirms, or perpetuates a false 
impression in another, including a false impression as to law, 
value, state of mind, or other objective or subjective fact.
(B) "Defraud" means to knowingly obtain, by deception, 
some benefit for oneself or another, or to knowingly cause, by 
deception, some detriment to another.
(C) "Deprive" means to do any of the following:
(1) Withhold property of another permanently, or for a 
period that appropriates a substantial portion of its value or 
use, or with purpose to restore it only upon payment of a reward 
or other consideration;
(2) Dispose of property so as to make it unlikely that the 
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2285 S. B. No. 185 Page 80
As Introduced
owner will recover it;
(3) Accept, use, or appropriate money, property, or 
services, with purpose not to give proper consideration in 
return for the money, property, or services, and without 
reasonable justification or excuse for not giving proper 
consideration.
(D) "Owner" means, unless the context requires a different 
meaning, any person, other than the actor, who is the owner of, 
who has possession or control of, or who has any license or 
interest in property or services, even though the ownership, 
possession, control, license, or interest is unlawful.
(E) "Services" include labor, personal services, 
professional services, rental services, public utility services 
including wireless service as defined in division (F)(1) of 
section 128.01 of the Revised Code, common carrier services, and 
food, drink, transportation, entertainment, and cable television 
services and, for purposes of section 2913.04 of the Revised 
Code, include cable services as defined in that section.
(F) "Writing" means any computer software, document, 
letter, memorandum, note, paper, plate, data, film, or other 
thing having in or upon it any written, typewritten, or printed 
matter, and any token, stamp, seal, credit card, badge, 
trademark, label, or other symbol of value, right, privilege, 
license, or identification.
(G) "Forge" means to fabricate or create, in whole or in 
part and by any means, any spurious writing, or to make, 
execute, alter, complete, reproduce, or otherwise purport to 
authenticate any writing, when the writing in fact is not 
authenticated by that conduct.
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2314 S. B. No. 185 Page 81
As Introduced
(H) "Utter" means to issue, publish, transfer, use, put or 
send into circulation, deliver, or display.
(I) "Coin machine" means any mechanical or electronic 
device designed to do both of the following:
(1) Receive a coin, bill, or token made for that purpose;
(2) In return for the insertion or deposit of a coin, 
bill, or token, automatically dispense property, provide a 
service, or grant a license.
(J) "Slug" means an object that, by virtue of its size, 
shape, composition, or other quality, is capable of being 
inserted or deposited in a coin machine as an improper 
substitute for a genuine coin, bill, or token made for that 
purpose.
(K) "Theft offense" means any of the following:
(1) A violation of section 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 
2911.12, 2911.13, 2911.31, 2911.32, 2913.02, 2913.03, 2913.04, 
2913.041, 2913.05, 2913.06, 2913.08, 2913.11, 2913.21, 2913.31, 
2913.32, 2913.33, 2913.34, 2913.40, 2913.42, 2913.43, 2913.44, 
2913.45, 2913.47, 2913.48, former section 2913.47 or 2913.48, or 
section 2913.51, 2915.05, or 2921.41 of the Revised Code;
(2) A violation of an existing or former municipal 
ordinance or law of this or any other state, or of the United 
States, substantially equivalent to any section listed in 
division (K)(1) of this section or a violation of section 
2913.41, 2913.81, or 2915.06 of the Revised Code as it existed 
prior to July 1, 1996;
(3) An offense under an existing or former municipal 
ordinance or law of this or any other state, or of the United 
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2342 S. B. No. 185 Page 82
As Introduced
States, involving robbery, burglary, breaking and entering, 
theft, embezzlement, wrongful conversion, forgery, 
counterfeiting, deceit, or fraud;
(4) A conspiracy or attempt to commit, or complicity in 
committing, any offense under division (K)(1), (2), or (3) of 
this section.
(L) "Computer services" includes, but is not limited to, 
the use of a computer system, computer network, computer 
program, data that is prepared for computer use, or data that is 
contained within a computer system or computer network.
(M) "Computer" means an electronic device that performs 
logical, arithmetic, and memory functions by the manipulation of 
electronic or magnetic impulses. "Computer" includes, but is not 
limited to, all input, output, processing, storage, computer 
program, or communication facilities that are connected, or 
related, in a computer system or network to an electronic device 
of that nature.
(N) "Computer system" means a computer and related 
devices, whether connected or unconnected, including, but not 
limited to, data input, output, and storage devices, data 
communications links, and computer programs and data that make 
the system capable of performing specified special purpose data 
processing tasks.
(O) "Computer network" means a set of related and remotely 
connected computers and communication facilities that includes 
more than one computer system that has the capability to 
transmit among the connected computers and communication 
facilities through the use of computer facilities.
(P) "Computer program" means an ordered set of data 
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2371 S. B. No. 185 Page 83
As Introduced
representing coded instructions or statements that, when 
executed by a computer, cause the computer to process data.
(Q) "Computer software" means computer programs, 
procedures, and other documentation associated with the 
operation of a computer system.
(R) "Data" means a representation of information, 
knowledge, facts, concepts, or instructions that are being or 
have been prepared in a formalized manner and that are intended 
for use in a computer, computer system, or computer network. For 
purposes of section 2913.47 of the Revised Code, "data" has the 
additional meaning set forth in division (A) of that section.
(S) "Cable television service" means any services provided 
by or through the facilities of any cable television system or 
other similar closed circuit coaxial cable communications 
system, or any microwave or similar transmission service used in 
connection with any cable television system or other similar 
closed circuit coaxial cable communications system.
(T) "Gain access" means to approach, instruct, communicate 
with, store data in, retrieve data from, or otherwise make use 
of any resources of a computer, computer system, or computer 
network, or any cable service or cable system both as defined in 
section 2913.04 of the Revised Code.
(U) "Credit card" includes, but is not limited to, a card, 
code, device, or other means of access to a customer's account 
for the purpose of obtaining money, property, labor, or services 
on credit, or for initiating an electronic fund transfer at a 
point-of-sale terminal, an automated teller machine, or a cash 
dispensing machine. It also includes a county procurement card 
issued under section 301.29 of the Revised Code.
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2400 S. B. No. 185 Page 84
As Introduced
(V) "Electronic fund transfer" has the same meaning as in 
92 Stat. 3728, 15 U.S.C.A. 1693a, as amended.
(W) "Rented property" means personal property in which the 
right of possession and use of the property is for a short and 
possibly indeterminate term in return for consideration; the 
rentee generally controls the duration of possession of the 
property, within any applicable minimum or maximum term; and the 
amount of consideration generally is determined by the duration 
of possession of the property.
(X) "Telecommunication" means the origination, emission, 
dissemination, transmission, or reception of data, images, 
signals, sounds, or other intelligence or equivalence of 
intelligence of any nature over any communications system by any 
method, including, but not limited to, a fiber optic, 
electronic, magnetic, optical, digital, or analog method.
(Y) "Telecommunications device" means any instrument, 
equipment, machine, or other device that facilitates 
telecommunication, including, but not limited to, a computer, 
computer network, computer chip, computer circuit, scanner, 
telephone, cellular telephone, pager, personal communications 
device, transponder, receiver, radio, modem, or device that 
enables the use of a modem.
(Z) "Telecommunications service" means the providing, 
allowing, facilitating, or generating of any form of 
telecommunication through the use of a telecommunications device 
over a telecommunications system.
(AA) "Counterfeit telecommunications device" means a 
telecommunications device that, alone or with another 
telecommunications device, has been altered, constructed, 
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2429 S. B. No. 185 Page 85
As Introduced
manufactured, or programmed to acquire, intercept, receive, or 
otherwise facilitate the use of a telecommunications service or 
information service without the authority or consent of the 
provider of the telecommunications service or information 
service. "Counterfeit telecommunications device" includes, but 
is not limited to, a clone telephone, clone microchip, tumbler 
telephone, or tumbler microchip; a wireless scanning device 
capable of acquiring, intercepting, receiving, or otherwise 
facilitating the use of telecommunications service or 
information service without immediate detection; or a device, 
equipment, hardware, or software designed for, or capable of, 
altering or changing the electronic serial number in a wireless 
telephone.
(BB)(1) "Information service" means, subject to division 
(BB)(2) of this section, the offering of a capability for 
generating, acquiring, storing, transforming, processing, 
retrieving, utilizing, or making available information via 
telecommunications, including, but not limited to, electronic 
publishing.
(2) "Information service" does not include any use of a 
capability of a type described in division (BB)(1) of this 
section for the management, control, or operation of a 
telecommunications system or the management of a 
telecommunications service.
(CC) "Elderly person" means a person who is sixty-five 
years of age or older.
(DD) "Disabled adult" means a person who is eighteen years 
of age or older and has some impairment of body or mind that 
makes the person unable to work at any substantially 
remunerative employment that the person otherwise would be able 
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2459 S. B. No. 185 Page 86
As Introduced
to perform and that will, with reasonable probability, continue 
for a period of at least twelve months without any present 
indication of recovery from the impairment, or who is eighteen 
years of age or older and has been certified as permanently and 
totally disabled by an agency of this state or the United States 
that has the function of so classifying persons.
(EE) "Firearm" and "dangerous ordnance" have the same 
meanings as in section 2923.11 of the Revised Code.
(FF) "Motor vehicle" has the same meaning as in section 
4501.01 of the Revised Code.
(GG) "Dangerous drug" has the same meaning as in section 
4729.01 of the Revised Code.
(HH) "Drug abuse offense" has the same meaning as in 
section 2925.01 of the Revised Code.
(II)(1) "Computer hacking" means any of the following:
(a) Gaining access or attempting to gain access to all or 
part of a computer, computer system, or a computer network 
without express or implied authorization with the intent to 
defraud or with intent to commit a crime;
(b) Misusing computer or network services including, but 
not limited to, mail transfer programs, file transfer programs, 
proxy servers, and web servers by performing functions not 
authorized by the owner of the computer, computer system, or 
computer network or other person authorized to give consent. As 
used in this division, "misuse of computer and network services" 
includes, but is not limited to, the unauthorized use of any of 
the following:
(i) Mail transfer programs to send mail to persons other 
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2487 S. B. No. 185 Page 87
As Introduced
than the authorized users of that computer or computer network;
(ii) File transfer program proxy services or proxy servers 
to access other computers, computer systems, or computer 
networks;
(iii) Web servers to redirect users to other web pages or 
web servers.
(c)(i) Subject to division (II)(1)(c)(ii) of this section, 
using a group of computer programs commonly known as "port 
scanners" or "probes" to intentionally access any computer, 
computer system, or computer network without the permission of 
the owner of the computer, computer system, or computer network 
or other person authorized to give consent. The group of 
computer programs referred to in this division includes, but is 
not limited to, those computer programs that use a computer 
network to access a computer, computer system, or another 
computer network to determine any of the following: the presence 
or types of computers or computer systems on a network; the 
computer network's facilities and capabilities; the availability 
of computer or network services; the presence or versions of 
computer software including, but not limited to, operating 
systems, computer services, or computer contaminants; the 
presence of a known computer software deficiency that can be 
used to gain unauthorized access to a computer, computer system, 
or computer network; or any other information about a computer, 
computer system, or computer network not necessary for the 
normal and lawful operation of the computer initiating the 
access.
(ii) The group of computer programs referred to in 
division (II)(1)(c)(i) of this section does not include standard 
computer software used for the normal operation, administration, 
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2517 S. B. No. 185 Page 88
As Introduced
management, and test of a computer, computer system, or computer 
network including, but not limited to, domain name services, 
mail transfer services, and other operating system services, 
computer programs commonly called "ping," "tcpdump," and 
"traceroute" and other network monitoring and management 
computer software, and computer programs commonly known as 
"nslookup" and "whois" and other systems administration computer 
software.
(d) The intentional use of a computer, computer system, or 
a computer network in a manner that exceeds any right or 
permission granted by the owner of the computer, computer 
system, or computer network or other person authorized to give 
consent.
(2) "Computer hacking" does not include the introduction 
of a computer contaminant, as defined in section 2909.01 of the 
Revised Code, into a computer, computer system, computer 
program, or computer network.
(JJ) "Police dog or horse" has the same meaning as in 
section 2921.321 of the Revised Code.
(KK) "Anhydrous ammonia" is a compound formed by the 
combination of two gaseous elements, nitrogen and hydrogen, in 
the manner described in this division. Anhydrous ammonia is one 
part nitrogen to three parts hydrogen (NH3). Anhydrous ammonia 
by weight is fourteen parts nitrogen to three parts hydrogen, 
which is approximately eighty-two per cent nitrogen to eighteen 
per cent hydrogen.
(LL) "Assistance dog" has the same meaning as in section 
955.011 955.021 of the Revised Code.
(MM) "Federally licensed firearms dealer" has the same 
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2546 S. B. No. 185 Page 89
As Introduced
meaning as in section 5502.63 of the Revised Code.
(NN) "Active duty service member" means any member of the 
armed forces of the United States performing active duty under 
title 10 of the United States Code.
Sec. 2921.321. (A) No person shall knowingly cause, or 
attempt to cause, physical harm to a police dog or horse in 
either of the following circumstances:
(1) The police dog or horse is assisting a law enforcement 
officer in the performance of the officer's official duties at 
the time the physical harm is caused or attempted.
(2) The police dog or horse is not assisting a law 
enforcement officer in the performance of the officer's official 
duties at the time the physical harm is caused or attempted, but 
the offender has actual knowledge that the dog or horse is a 
police dog or horse.
(B) No person shall recklessly do any of the following:
(1) Taunt, torment, or strike a police dog or horse;
(2) Throw an object or substance at a police dog or horse;
(3) Interfere with or obstruct a police dog or horse, or 
interfere with or obstruct a law enforcement officer who is 
being assisted by a police dog or horse, in a manner that does 
any of the following:
(a) Inhibits or restricts the law enforcement officer's 
control of the police dog or horse;
(b) Deprives the law enforcement officer of control of the 
police dog or horse;
(c) Releases the police dog or horse from its area of 
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2573 S. B. No. 185 Page 90
As Introduced
control;
(d) Enters the area of control of the police dog or horse 
without the consent of the law enforcement officer, including 
placing food or any other object or substance into that area;
(e) Inhibits or restricts the ability of the police dog or 
horse to assist a law enforcement officer.
(4) Engage in any conduct that is likely to cause serious 
physical injury or death to a police dog or horse;
(5) If the person is the owner, keeper, or harborer of a 
dog, fail to reasonably restrain the dog from taunting, 
tormenting, chasing, approaching in a menacing fashion or 
apparent attitude of attack, or attempting to bite or otherwise 
endanger a police dog or horse that at the time of the conduct, 
the police dog or horse is assisting a law enforcement officer 
in the performance of the officer's duties or that the person 
knows is a police dog or horse.
(C) No person shall knowingly cause, or attempt to cause, 
physical harm to an assistance dog in either of the following 
circumstances:
(1) The dog, at the time the physical harm is caused or 
attempted, is assisting or serving a person who is blind, deaf, 
or hearing impaired or a person with a mobility impairment.
(2) The dog, at the time the physical harm is caused or 
attempted, is not assisting or serving a person who is blind, 
deaf, or hearing impaired or a person with a mobility 
impairment, but the offender has actual knowledge that the dog 
is an assistance dog.
(D) No person shall recklessly do any of the following:
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2601 S. B. No. 185 Page 91
As Introduced
(1) Taunt, torment, or strike an assistance dog;
(2) Throw an object or substance at an assistance dog;
(3) Interfere with or obstruct an assistance dog, or 
interfere with or obstruct a person who is blind, deaf, or 
hearing impaired or a person with a mobility impairment who is 
being assisted or served by an assistance dog, in a manner that 
does any of the following:
(a) Inhibits or restricts the assisted or served person's 
control of the dog;
(b) Deprives the assisted or served person of control of 
the dog;
(c) Releases the dog from its area of control;
(d) Enters the area of control of the dog without the 
consent of the assisted or served person, including placing food 
or any other object or substance into that area;
(e) Inhibits or restricts the ability of the dog to assist 
the assisted or served person.
(4) Engage in any conduct that is likely to cause serious 
physical injury or death to an assistance dog;
(5) If the person is the owner, keeper, or harborer of a 
dog, fail to reasonably restrain the dog from taunting, 
tormenting, chasing, approaching in a menacing fashion or 
apparent attitude of attack, or attempting to bite or otherwise 
endanger an assistance dog that at the time of the conduct is 
assisting or serving a person who is blind, deaf, or hearing 
impaired or a person with a mobility impairment or that the 
person knows is an assistance dog.
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As Introduced
(E)(1) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is 
guilty of assaulting a police dog or horse, and shall be 
punished as provided in divisions (E)(1)(a) and (b) of this 
section.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this division, 
assaulting a police dog or horse is a misdemeanor of the second 
degree. If the violation results in the death of the police dog 
or horse, assaulting a police dog or horse is a felony of the 
third degree and the court shall impose as a mandatory prison 
term one of the definite prison terms prescribed in division (A)
(3)(b) of section 2929.14 of the Revised Code for a felony of 
the third degree. If the violation results in serious physical 
harm to the police dog or horse other than its death, assaulting 
a police dog or horse is a felony of the fourth degree. If the 
violation results in physical harm to the police dog or horse 
other than death or serious physical harm, assaulting a police 
dog or horse is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(b) In addition to any other sanction imposed for 
assaulting a police dog or horse, if the violation of division 
(A) of this section results in the death of the police dog or 
horse, the sentencing court shall impose as a financial sanction 
a mandatory fine under division (B)(10) of section 2929.18 of 
the Revised Code. The fine shall be paid to the law enforcement 
agency that was served by the police dog or horse that was 
killed, and shall be used by that agency only for one or more of 
the following purposes:
(i) If the dog or horse was not owned by the agency, the 
payment to the owner of the dog or horse of the cost of the dog 
or horse and the cost of the training of the dog or horse to 
qualify it as a police dog or horse, if that cost has not 
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2658 S. B. No. 185 Page 93
As Introduced
previously been paid by the agency;
(ii) After payment of the costs described in division (E)
(1)(b)(i) of this section, if applicable, payment of the cost of 
replacing the dog or horse that was killed;
(iii) After payment of the costs described in division (E)
(1)(b)(i) of this section, if applicable, payment of the cost of 
training the replacement dog or horse to qualify it as a police 
dog or horse;
(iv) After payment of the costs described in division (E)
(1)(b)(i) of this section, if applicable, payment of the cost of 
further training of the replacement dog or horse that is needed 
to train it to the level of training that had been achieved by 
the dog or horse that was killed.
(2) Whoever violates division (B) of this section is 
guilty of harassing a police dog or horse. Except as otherwise 
provided in this division, harassing a police dog or horse is a 
misdemeanor of the second degree. If the violation results in 
the death of the police dog or horse, harassing a police dog or 
horse is a felony of the third degree. If the violation results 
in serious physical harm to the police dog or horse, but does 
not result in its death, harassing a police dog or horse, is a 
felony of the fourth degree. If the violation results in 
physical harm to the police dog or horse, but does not result in 
its death or in serious physical harm to it, harassing a police 
dog or horse is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(3) Whoever violates division (C) of this section is 
guilty of assaulting an assistance dog. Except as otherwise 
provided in this division, assaulting an assistance dog is a 
misdemeanor of the second degree. If the violation results in 
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2687 S. B. No. 185 Page 94
As Introduced
the death of the assistance dog, assaulting an assistance dog is 
a felony of the third degree. If the violation results in 
serious physical harm to the assistance dog other than its 
death, assaulting an assistance dog is a felony of the fourth 
degree. If the violation results in physical harm to the 
assistance dog other than death or serious physical harm, 
assaulting an assistance dog is a misdemeanor of the first 
degree.
(4) Whoever violates division (D) of this section is 
guilty of harassing an assistance dog. Except as otherwise 
provided in this division, harassing an assistance dog is a 
misdemeanor of the second degree. If the violation results in 
the death of the assistance dog, harassing an assistance dog is 
a felony of the third degree. If the violation results in 
serious physical harm to the assistance dog, but does not result 
in its death, harassing an assistance dog is a felony of the 
fourth degree. If the violation results in physical harm to the 
assistance dog, but does not result in its death or in serious 
physical harm to it, harassing an assistance dog is a 
misdemeanor of the first degree.
(5) In addition to any other sanction or penalty imposed 
for the offense under this section, Chapter 2929., or any other 
provision of the Revised Code, whoever violates division (A), 
(B), (C), or (D) of this section is responsible for the payment 
of all of the following:
(a) Any veterinary bill or bill for medication incurred as 
a result of the violation by the police department regarding a 
violation of division (A) or (B) of this section or by the 
person who is blind, deaf, or hearing impaired or the person 
with a mobility impairment assisted or served by the assistance 
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2717 S. B. No. 185 Page 95
As Introduced
dog regarding a violation of division (C) or (D) of this 
section;
(b) The cost of any damaged equipment that results from 
the violation;
(c) If the violation did not result in the death of the 
police dog or horse or the assistance dog that was the subject 
of the violation and if, as a result of that dog or horse being 
the subject of the violation, the dog or horse needs further 
training or retraining to be able to continue in the capacity of 
a police dog or horse or an assistance dog, the cost of any 
further training or retraining of that dog or horse by a law 
enforcement officer or by the person who is blind, deaf, or 
hearing impaired or the person with a mobility impairment 
assisted or served by the assistance dog;
(d) If the violation resulted in the death of the 
assistance dog that was the subject of the violation or resulted 
in serious physical harm to the police dog or horse or the 
assistance dog or horse that was the subject of the violation to 
the extent that the dog or horse needs to be replaced on either 
a temporary or a permanent basis, the cost of replacing that dog 
or horse and of any further training of a new police dog or 
horse or a new assistance dog by a law enforcement officer or by 
the person who is blind, deaf, or hearing impaired or the person 
with a mobility impairment assisted or served by the assistance 
dog, which replacement or training is required because of the 
death of or the serious physical harm to the dog or horse that 
was the subject of the violation.
(F) This section does not apply to a licensed veterinarian 
whose conduct is in accordance with Chapter 4741. of the Revised 
Code.
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2747 S. B. No. 185 Page 96
As Introduced
(G) This section only applies to an offender who knows or 
should know at the time of the violation that the police dog or 
horse or assistance dog that is the subject of a violation under 
this section is a police dog or horse or an assistance dog.
(H) As used in this section:
(1) "Physical harm" means any injury, illness, or other 
physiological impairment, regardless of its gravity or duration.
(2) "Police dog or horse" means a dog or horse that has 
been trained, and may be used, to assist law enforcement 
officers in the performance of their official duties.
(3) "Serious physical harm" means any of the following:
(a) Any physical harm that carries a substantial risk of 
death;
(b) Any physical harm that causes permanent maiming or 
that involves some temporary, substantial maiming;
(c) Any physical harm that causes acute pain of a duration 
that results in substantial suffering.
(4) "Assistance dog," "blind," and "person with a mobility 
impairment" have the same meanings as in section 955.011 955.021 
of the Revised Code.
Section 2. That existing sections 304.02, 304.03, 715.23, 
901.80, 935.03, 955.01, 955.011, 955.012, 955.013, 955.02, 
955.03, 955.04, 955.05, 955.06, 955.07, 955.09, 955.10, 955.11, 
955.12, 955.121, 955.14, 955.16, 955.20, 955.22, 955.221, 
955.222, 955.26, 955.261, 955.40, 955.43, 955.44, 955.50, 
955.54, 959.132, 1533.12, 1901.18, 1907.031, 2913.01, and 
2921.321 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.
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2774 S. B. No. 185 Page 97
As Introduced
Section 3. That sections 955.08, 955.21, 955.23, 955.24, 
955.25, 955.39, 955.51, 955.52, 955.53, and 955.99 of the 
Revised Code are hereby repealed.
Section 4. The owner of a dog who holds a valid dangerous 
dog registration certificate for the dog that was issued under 
division (I) of section 955.22 of the Revised Code as that 
section existed prior to its amendment by this act shall renew 
the certificate beginning on the first day of December of the 
year in which this section takes effect, but not later than the 
thirty-first day of January of the subsequent year regardless of 
when the owner would have been required to renew the certificate 
under former law. Except as otherwise provided in this section, 
the owner shall file the application in accordance with section 
955.02 of the Revised Code as amended by this act.
If the renewal required by this section results in a 
reduction of the registration period for which the owner paid 
fifty dollars under former law, the owner shall pay a 
registration fee for the renewal required by this section in an 
amount that is prorated as determined by the county auditor of 
the county in which the owner resides. Thereafter, the owner 
shall renew the dangerous dog registration certificate in 
accordance with section 955.02 of the Revised Code as amended by 
this act.
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