Committee advances bill letting municipalities recover certified-mail cost for unlicensed-dog forfeiture

The Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs Committee on Tuesday voted by voice to advance House Bill 86-FN-L, a bill that would allow municipalities to recover the certified-mail cost when civilly forfeiting unlicensed dogs.

The bill, introduced to the committee as having previously passed the House municipal and county government committee 18-0 and amended on the House floor, would raise the recoverable “cost of services” for unlicensed-dog forfeiture to the certified-mail rate.

The issue drew one in-person commenter, Maura Ryan, who identified herself to the committee and asked lawmakers to consider the effect on owners who could not afford licensing fees. “I did listen to the testimony on this bill in the house, and I think that it was extremely petty to put through this as I see it as something that's a cost of doing business,” Ryan said, adding that many owners do not have the money to pay a $7 dog license in the first place.

Committee members then discussed the bill in executive session, describing the municipal perspective that forfeiture services were intended to be self-sustaining and that fees historically cover administrative expenses. Committee members said passing certified-mail costs to owners would prevent the expense from being shifted to the general taxpayer. During discussion committee members described the increase variously — one lawmaker described the change as adding about $1.95 while another described it as an increase of $5.95 — and said the intent is to cover the certified-mail expense rather than to punish owners.

The committee moved the bill to pass by voice vote; senators responded “ayes” and the chair declared the ayes had it. The item was placed on the consent calendar for further Senate consideration. The committee clerk noted three people had submitted testimony offline (two opposed, one in support).