SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1247        FILED ON: 1/18/2013

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 969

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Michael F. Rush

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to dangerous dogs in cities and towns.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Michael F. Rush

Norfolk and Suffolk

Mayor Thomas Menino

Boston City Hall One City Hall Square Boston, MA 02201

Carlo Basile

1st Suffolk


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1247        FILED ON: 1/18/2013

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 969

By Mr. Rush, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 969) of Michael F. Rush, Mayor Thomas Menino and Carlo Basile for legislation relative to dangerous dogs in cities and towns.  Municipalities and Regional Government.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

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An Act relative to dangerous dogs in cities and towns.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

                SECTION 1. Subsection (a) of section 157 of chapter 140 of the General Laws, as appearing in section 32 of chapter 193 of the acts of 2012, is hereby amended by inserting in the first paragraph, in clause (ii), after the word “dog”,  the following words:- unless municipal attack data indicates a specific breed may be deemed dangerous.

                SECTION 2.  Subsection (c) of section 157 of said chapter 140 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting in the last paragraph, after the word “breed”, the following sentence:-

Unless a city or town deems a specific breed to be deemed dangerous through analysis of  municipal attack data and by a majority vote of the city council with the approval of the mayor, in the case of a city with a Plan A, Plan B, or Plan F charter; by a majority vote of the city council, in the case of a city with a Plan C, Plan D, or Plan E charter; by a majority vote of the annual town meeting or a special meeting called for the purpose, in the case of a municipality with a town meeting form of government; or by a majority vote of the town council, in the case of a municipality with a town council form of government.