HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 1988.06.23 - 17512June 23, 1988 Miscellaneous Resolution # 88 166
BY: GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE-Richard G. Skarritt, Chairperson
RE: HOUSE BILL 4897 (SUPPORT) PROVIDING FOR PUBLIC PROTECTION
AGAINST DANGEROUS ANIMALS
TO THE OAKLAND COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Mr. Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS House Bill 4897 provides for the confinement, tatooing or
destruction of dangerous animals and specifies penalties for the owners or
keepers of dangerous animals that attack human beings; and
WHEREAS House Bill 4897 goes beyond the pit bull terrier concern by
defining "dangerous animal" as a dog or other animal that bites or attacks a
person; and
WHEREAS the bill also outlines what the definition of a dangerous
animal does not include as follows: (1) an animal that bites or attacks a
person who is knowingly trespassing on the property of the animal's owner
when the animal is securely confined within the boundaries of the property,
(2) an animal that bites or attacks a person who provokes or attacks the
animal, (3) an animal responding in the expected manner of protecting a
person who is engaged in a lawful activity and is the subject of an assault,
and (4) livestock; and
WHEREAS the bill provides for district or municipal court determination
whether an animal is dangerous and authorizes the court or magistrate to take
appropriate action within guidelines to protect the public; and
WHEREAS House Bill 4897 specifies that the owner of a dangerous
animal that causes the death of a person is guilty of involuntary
manslaughter, punishable under Section 21 of the Michigan penal code; and
WHEREAS the bill provides that if a dangerous animal attacks a person
and causes serious injury other than death, the owner of the animal is
guilty of a felony, punishable by imprisonment for not more than 4 years or
by a fine of not less than $2,000, or both.
House Bill 4897 (Support)
June 23, 1988-Page 2
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of
Commissioners supports House Bill 4897 which has passed the House of
Representatives and is awaiting action in the Michigan Senate.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be sent to the
four State Senators representing Oakland County and to the Board's
Legislative Agent.
Mr. Chairperson, on behalf of the General Government Committee, I
move the adoption of the foregoing resolution.
Resolution # 88166 June 23, 1988
this 23rd
rk/Register of De
Moved by Skarritt supported by Doyon the resolution be adopted.
AYES: Calandro, Crake, Doyon, Gosling, Hobart, Jensen, R. Kuhn, S. Kuhn,
Law, McConnell, McDonald, A. McPherson, R. McPherson, Moffitt, Oaks, Pernick, Price,
Rewold, Skarritt, Wilcox, Aaron, Caddell. (22)
NAYS: None. (0)
A sufficient majority having voted therefor, the resolution was adopted.
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
1, Lynn D. Allen, Clerk of the County of Oakland and having a seal,
do hereby certify that I have compared the annexed copy of the attached
resolution adopted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners at their regular
meeting held on June 23, 1988
with the original record thereof no/ remaining in my office, and
that it is a true and correct transcript therefrom, and of the
whole thereof.
In Testimony Whereof, have hereunto set my hand and affixed the
seal of said County at Pontiac, Michigan
'day of „ June ID88