To amend sections 955.02, 955.10, 955.12, 955.20, 955.26, and 1901.183 and to enact sections 956.01 to 956.18 of the Revised Code to regulate certain dog breeding kennels and dog retailers.

SECTION 1.  That sections 955.02, 955.10, 955.12, 955.20, 955.26, and 1901.183 be amended and sections 956.01, 956.02, 956.03, 956.04, 956.05, 956.06, 956.07, 956.08, 956.09, 956.10, 956.11, 956.12, 956.13, 956.14, 956.15, 956.16, 956.17, and 956.18 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 955.02.  A As used in this chapter, "dog kennel" or "kennel owner is a person, partnership, firm, company, or corporation professionally engaged in the business" 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 hunting or for a fee or other consideration received through a sale, exchange, or lease and that is not a high volume breeder licensed under Chapter 956. of the Revised Code.

Sec. 955.10.  No owner of a dog, except a dog constantly confined to a registered dog kennel registered under this chapter or one licensed under Chapter 956. of the Revised Code, shall fail to require the dog to wear, at all times, a valid tag issued in connection with a certificate of registration. A dog's failure dog found not wearing at any time to wear a valid tag shall be prima-facie evidence of lack of registration and shall subject any dog found not wearing such a tag to impounding, sale, or destruction.

Sec. 955.12.  The 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, 955.29 to 955.38, and 955.50 to 955.53 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.

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 registered 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.

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.

The warden and deputies shall also investigate all claims for damages to animals reported to them under section 955.29 of the Revised Code and assist claimants to fill out the claim form therefor. They shall make weekly reports, in writing, to the board in their respective counties of all dogs seized, impounded, redeemed, and destroyed and of all claims for damage to animals inflicted by dogs.

The wardens and deputies shall have the same police powers as are conferred upon sheriffs and police officers in the performance of their duties as prescribed by sections 955.01 to 955.27, 955.29 to 955.38, and 955.50 to 955.53 of the Revised Code. 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.

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 registered 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 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.

As used in this section, "animal" has the same meaning as in section 955.51 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 955.20.  The registration fees provided for in sections 955.01 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 and. 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 to 955.261 of the Revised Code, and for the payment of animal claims as provided in sections 955.29 to 955.38 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 (F)(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 to 955.27 of the Revised Code, the board, by resolution so provided, after setting aside a sum equal to the total amount of animal claims paid or filed in that calendar year, or an amount equal to the total amount of animal claims paid or allowed the preceding year, whichever amount is larger, may appropriate further funds for the use and purpose of the county dog warden in administering those sections.

Sec. 955.26.  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 suitable pound or, 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.

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 of the Revised Code for any dog that is required to be vaccinated.

The director shall determine appropriate methods of rabies vaccination and satisfactory periods for purposes of quarantines under this section.

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.

Notwithstanding the provisions of 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.

Sec. 956.01.  As used in this chapter:

(A) "Adult dog" means a dog that is twelve months of age or older.

(B) "Animal rescue for dogs" means an individual or organization recognized by the director of agriculture that keeps, houses, and maintains dogs and that is dedicated to the welfare, health, safety, and protection of dogs, provided that the individual or organization does not operate for profit, does not sell dogs for a profit, does not breed dogs, and does not purchase more than nine dogs in any given calendar year unless the dogs are purchased from a dog warden appointed under Chapter 955. of the Revised Code, a humane society, or another animal rescue for dogs. "Animal rescue for dogs" includes an individual or organization that offers spayed or neutered dogs for adoption and charges reasonable adoption fees to cover the costs of the individual or organization, including, but not limited to, costs related to spaying or neutering dogs.

(C) "Animal shelter for dogs" means a facility that keeps, houses, and maintains dogs such as a dog pound operated by a municipal corporation, or by a county under Chapter 955. of the Revised Code, or that is operated by a humane society, animal welfare society, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or other nonprofit organization that is devoted to the welfare, protection, and humane treatment of dogs and other animals.

(D) "Boarding kennel" means an establishment operating for profit that keeps, houses, and maintains dogs solely for the purpose of providing shelter, care, and feeding of the dogs in return for a fee or other consideration.

(E) "Breeding dog" means an unneutered, unspayed dog that is primarily harbored or housed on property that is the dog's primary residence.

(F) "High volume breeder" means an establishment that keeps, houses, and maintains adult breeding dogs that produce at least nine litters of puppies in any given calendar year and, in return for a fee or other consideration, sells sixty or more adult dogs or puppies per calendar year.

(G) "Humane society" means an organization that is organized under section 1717.05 of the Revised Code.

(H) "Dog retailer" means a person who buys, sells, or offers to sell dogs at wholesale for resale to another or who sells or gives one or more dogs to a pet store annually. "Dog retailer" does not include an animal rescue for dogs, an animal shelter for dogs, a humane society, a medical kennel for dogs, a research kennel for dogs, a pet store, or a veterinarian.

(I) "Environmental division of the Franklin county municipal court" means the environmental division of the Franklin county municipal court created in section 1901.011 of the Revised Code.

(J) "Medical kennel for dogs" means a facility that is maintained by a veterinarian and operated primarily for the treatment of sick or injured dogs.

(K) "Pet store" means a retail store that sells dogs to the public.

(L) "Puppy" means a dog that is under twelve months of age.

(M) "Research kennel for dogs" means a facility housing dogs that is maintained exclusively for research purposes.

(N) "Veterinarian" means a veterinarian licensed under Chapter 4741. of the Revised Code.

Sec. 956.02.  Medical kennels for dogs, research kennels for dogs, animal shelters for dogs that are operated by a municipal corporation, or by a county under Chapter 955. of the Revised Code, and veterinarians are not required to obtain a license under this chapter or comply with any other requirements of this chapter and rules adopted under it.

Sec. 956.03.  The director of agriculture shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code establishing all of the following:

(A) Requirements and procedures governing high volume breeders, including the licensing and inspection of and record keeping by high volume breeders, in addition to the requirements and procedures established in this chapter;

(B) Requirements and procedures for conducting background investigations of each applicant for a license issued under section 956.04 of the Revised Code in order to determine if the applicant has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any of the violations specified in division (A)(2) of section 956.15 of the Revised Code;

(C) Requirements and procedures governing dog retailers, including the licensing of and record keeping by dog retailers, in addition to the requirements and procedures established in this chapter;

(D) The form of applications for licenses issued under this chapter and the information that is required to be submitted in the applications and the form for registering as an animal rescue for dogs under this chapter and the information that is required to be provided with a registration, including the name and address of each foster home that an animal rescue for dogs utilizes;

(E) A requirement that each high volume breeder submit to the director, with an application for a high volume breeder license, evidence of insurance or, in the alternative, evidence of a surety bond payable to the state to ensure compliance with this chapter and rules adopted under it. The face value of the insurance coverage or bond shall be in the following amounts:

(1) Five thousand dollars for high volume breeders keeping, housing, and maintaining not more than twenty-five adult dogs;

(2) Ten thousand dollars for high volume breeders keeping, housing, and maintaining at least twenty-six adult dogs, but not more than fifty adult dogs;

(3) Fifty thousand dollars for high volume breeders keeping, housing, and maintaining more than fifty adult dogs.

The rules shall require that the insurance be payable to the state or that the surety bond be subject to redemption by the state, as applicable, upon a suspension or revocation of a high volume breeder license for the purpose of paying for the maintenance and care of dogs that are seized or otherwise impounded from the high volume breeder in accordance with this chapter.

(F)(1) For high volume breeders, standards of care governing all of the following:

(a) Housing;

(b) Nutrition;

(c) Exercise;

(d) Grooming;

(e) Biosecurity and disease control;

(f) Waste management;

(g) Whelping;

(h) Any other general standards of care for dogs.

(2) In adopting rules under division (F)(1) of this section, the director shall consider the following factors, without limitation:

(a) Best management practices for the care and well-being of dogs;

(b) Biosecurity;

(c) The prevention of disease;

(d) Morbidity and mortality data;

(e) Generally accepted veterinary medical standards and ethical standards established by the American veterinary medical association;

(f) Standards established by the United States department of agriculture under the federal animal welfare act as defined in section 959.131 of the Revised Code.

(G) Procedures for inspections conducted under section 956.10 of the Revised Code in addition to the procedures established in that section, and procedures for making records of the inspections;

(H)(1) A requirement that an in-state retailer of a puppy or adult dog provide to the purchaser the complete name, address, and telephone number of all high volume breeders, dog retailers, and private owners that kept, housed, or maintained the puppy or adult dog prior to its coming into the possession of the retailer or proof that the puppy or adult dog was acquired through an animal rescue for dogs, animal shelter for dogs, or humane society, or a valid health certificate from the state of origin pertaining to the puppy or adult dog;

(2) A requirement that an out-of-state retailer of a puppy or adult dog that is conducting business in this state provide to the purchaser a valid health certificate from the state of origin pertaining to the puppy or adult dog and the complete name, address, and telephone number of all breeders, retailers, and private owners that kept, housed, or maintained the puppy or adult dog prior to its coming into the possession of the retailer or proof that the puppy or adult dog was acquired through an animal rescue for dogs, animal shelter for dogs, or humane society in this state or another state.

(I) A requirement that a high volume breeder or a dog retailer who advertises the sale of a puppy or adult dog include with the advertisement the vendor number assigned by the tax commissioner to the high volume breeder or to the dog retailer if the sale of the puppy or dog is subject to the tax levied under Chapter 5739. of the Revised Code;

(J) A requirement that a licensed high volume breeder and a licensed dog retailer comply with Chapter 5739. of the Revised Code. The rules shall authorize the director to suspend or revoke a license for failure to comply with that chapter. The director shall work in conjunction with the tax commissioner for the purposes of rules adopted under this division.

(K) Any other requirements and procedures that are determined by the director to be necessary for the administration and enforcement of this chapter and rules adopted under it. However, rules adopted under this division shall not establish additional requirements and procedures governing animal rescues for dogs other than those adopted under division (D) of this section.

Sec. 956.04.  (A)(1) No person shall operate a high volume breeder in this state without a high volume breeder license issued by the director of agriculture in accordance with this section and rules adopted under section 956.03 of the Revised Code.

(2) The director shall not issue a license under this section unless the director determines that the applicant will operate or will continue to operate the high volume breeder in accordance with this chapter and rules adopted under it.

(B) In determining whether an establishment is a high volume breeder requiring a license under this chapter, the director shall determine if, in any given year, the establishment is a high volume breeder as defined in section 956.01 of the Revised Code. All facilities that are located at an individual postal address shall be licensed as one high volume breeder. Not more than one license shall be issued under this section for any given postal address.

(C) A person who is proposing to operate a new high volume breeder shall submit an application for a license to the director at least ninety days before commencing operation of the high volume breeder. The application shall be submitted in the form and with the information required by rules adopted under section 956.03 of the Revised Code and shall include with it at least all of the following:

(1) An affidavit signed under oath or solemn affirmation of the number of adult dogs that are kept, housed, and maintained by the applicant at the location that is the subject of the application;

(2) An estimate of the number of puppies to be kept, housed, and maintained and of the number of litters of puppies or total number of puppies to be produced during the term of the license;

(3) Photographic evidence documenting the facilities where dogs will be kept, housed, and maintained by the applicant. The director may conduct an inspection of the facilities that are the subject of an application in addition to reviewing photographic evidence submitted by an applicant for a license.

(4) A signed release permitting the performance of a background investigation regarding the applicant in accordance with rules adopted under section 956.03 of the Revised Code;

(5) Proof that the applicant has established a veterinary-client-patient relationship as described in section 4741.04 of the Revised Code.

(D) During the month of December, but before the first day of January of the next year, a person who is proposing to continue the operation of a high volume breeder shall obtain a license for the high volume breeder from the director for the following year. The person shall apply for the license in the same manner as for an initial license.

(E) The owner or operator of a high volume breeder that is in operation on the effective date of this section shall submit to the director an application for a high volume breeder license not later than three months after the effective date of this section. The director shall issue or deny the application for a license within ninety days after the receipt of the completed application.

(F) A person who has received a license under this section, upon sale or other disposition of the high volume breeder, may have the license transferred to another person with the consent of the director, provided that the transferee otherwise qualifies to be licensed as a high volume breeder under this chapter and rules adopted under it and does not have a certified unpaid debt to the state.

(G) An applicant for a license issued under this section shall demonstrate that the high volume breeder that is the subject of the application complies with standards established in rules adopted under section 956.03 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 956.05.  (A)(1) No person shall act as or perform the functions of a dog retailer in this state without a dog retailer license issued by the director of agriculture in accordance with this section and rules adopted under section 956.03 of the Revised Code.

(2) The director shall not issue a license under this section unless the director determines that the applicant will act as or perform the functions of a dog retailer in accordance with this chapter and rules adopted under it.

(B) A person who is proposing to act as or perform the functions of a dog retailer shall submit an application for a license to the director. During the month of December, but before the first day of January of the next year, a person who is proposing to continue to act as or perform the functions of a dog retailer shall obtain a license from the director for the following year.

(C) A person who is acting as or performing the functions of a dog retailer on the effective date of this section shall submit to the director an application for a dog retailer license not later than three months after the effective date of this section. The director shall issue or deny the application for a license within ninety days after the receipt of the completed application.

Sec. 956.06. No person shall operate an animal rescue for dogs without first registering with the director of agriculture in accordance with rules adopted under section 956.03 of the Revised Code. No registration fee shall be charged to an animal rescue for dogs. The director shall maintain a database of all persons that are registered to operate an animal rescue for dogs in this state.

Sec. 956.07. (A) A person who is applying for a license to operate a high volume breeder or to act as or perform the functions of a dog retailer under section 956.04 or 956.05 of the Revised Code, as applicable, shall include with the application for a license a nonrefundable license application fee. For the purpose of calculating the application fee for a high volume breeder, the sale of one dog from a litter constitutes the sale of a litter. The application fees are as follows:

(1) For a high volume breeder:

(a) One hundred fifty dollars if the high volume breeder annually sells at least nine, but not more than fifteen litters;

(b) Two hundred fifty dollars if the high volume breeder annually sells at least sixteen, but not more than twenty-five litters;

(c) Three hundred fifty dollars if the high volume breeder annually sells at least twenty-six, but not more than thirty-five litters;

(d) Five hundred dollars if the high volume breeder annually sells at least thirty-six, but not more than forty-five litters;

(e) Seven hundred fifty dollars if the high volume breeder annually sells forty-six or more litters.

(2) For a dog retailer, five hundred dollars.

(B) Money collected by the director from each application fee submitted under this section shall be transmitted by the director to the treasurer of state to be credited to the high volume breeder kennel control license fund created in section 956.18 of the Revised Code. The treasurer of state shall transfer to the county auditor of the county in which a high volume breeder is located or will be located fifty dollars of the application fee submitted by the breeder under this section or an amount equal to the fee charged in that county for the registration of a kennel under section 955.14 of the Revised Code, whichever is greater. The county auditor shall deposit the transferred money into that county's dog and kennel fund created under section 955.20 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 956.08. No person operating a high volume breeder or acting as or performing the functions of a dog retailer shall fail to comply with applicable standards established by the director of agriculture in rules adopted under section 956.03 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 956.09. The director of agriculture shall enforce the requirements and standards established in this chapter and rules adopted under it.

Sec. 956.10.  (A)(1) At least once annually, the director of agriculture or the director's authorized representative shall inspect a high volume breeder that is subject to licensure under this chapter and rules adopted under section 956.03 of the Revised Code to ensure compliance with this chapter and rules adopted under it, including the standards of care established in rules adopted under that section.

(2) The director or the director's authorized representative shall inspect a boarding kennel when the director or the director's authorized representative has received information that the boarding kennel is breeding dogs and may be subject to licensure under this chapter and rules adopted under section 956.03 of the Revised Code.

(B) The director or the director's authorized representative may do any of the following:

(1) Upon receiving a complaint, inspect a high volume breeder that is subject to licensure under this chapter and rules adopted under section 956.03 of the Revised Code to ensure compliance with this chapter and rules adopted under it;

(2) Upon the request of a member of the public, a public official, or an animal shelter for dogs, inspect any facility at which a person is acting as or performing the functions of a dog retailer to ensure such compliance;

(3) Upon receiving a complaint, inspect an animal rescue for dogs to ensure compliance with section 956.06 of the Revised Code and applicable rules adopted under section 956.03 of the Revised Code;

(4) Conduct an inspection under this section during regular business hours without providing notice in advance.

(C) Inspections shall be conducted in accordance with rules adopted under section 956.03 of the Revised Code. A record of each inspection shall be made by the director or the director's authorized representative who is responsible for the inspection in accordance with those rules.

(D) The director or the director's authorized representative, upon proper identification and upon stating the purpose and necessity of an inspection, may enter at reasonable times on any public or private property, real or personal, to inspect or investigate and to examine or copy records in order to determine compliance with this chapter and rules adopted under it. The director, the director's authorized representative, or the attorney general upon the request of the director may apply to the appropriate court in the county in which inspection will occur for an appropriate court order or search warrant as necessary to achieve the purposes of this chapter and rules adopted under it.

(E) No owner or operator of a high volume breeder, person acting as or performing the functions of a dog retailer, owner or operator of a boarding kennel, or owner or operator of an animal rescue for dogs shall interfere with an inspection or refuse to allow the director or the director's authorized representative full access to all areas where dogs are kept or cared for. If entry is refused or inspection or investigation is refused, hindered, or thwarted by a high volume breeder or dog retailer, the director may suspend or revoke the breeder's or retailer's license in accordance with this chapter.

(F)(1) The director may enter into a contract or agreement with a veterinarian to conduct inspections under this section. The veterinarian shall be considered the director's authorized representative for the purposes of this section.

(2) A veterinarian with whom the director has entered into a contract or agreement under division (F)(1) of this section may inspect a high volume breeder with whom the veterinarian has established a veterinary-client-patient relationship as described in section 4741.04 of the Revised Code only every other year.

(3) If the director determines that a veterinarian with whom the director has entered into a contract or agreement under division (F)(1) of this section has falsified any information submitted to the director pursuant to an inspection, the director shall inform the veterinary medical licensing board created by Chapter 4741. of the Revised Code of the falsification.

(G) If entry that is authorized by division (D) of this section is refused or if an inspection or investigation is refused, hindered, or thwarted by intimidation or otherwise and if the director, an authorized representative of the director, or the attorney general applies for and obtains a court order or a search warrant under division (D) of this section to conduct the inspection or investigation, the owner or operator of the premises where entry was refused or inspection or investigation was refused, hindered, or thwarted, if found guilty of violating this chapter or rules adopted under it, is liable to the director for the reasonable costs incurred by the director for the regular salaries and fringe benefit costs of personnel assigned to conduct the inspection or investigation from the time the court order or search warrant was issued until the court order or search warrant is executed; for the salary, fringe benefits, and travel expenses of the director, an authorized representative of the director, or the attorney general incurred in obtaining the court order or search warrant; and for expenses necessarily incurred for the assistance of local law enforcement officers in executing the court order or search warrant. In the application for a court order or a search warrant, the director, the director's authorized representative, or the attorney general may request and the court, in its order granting the court order or search warrant, may order the owner or operator of the premises, if found guilty of violating this chapter or rules adopted under it, to reimburse the director for any of those costs that the court finds reasonable. From money recovered under this division, the director shall reimburse the attorney general for the costs incurred by the attorney general in connection with proceedings for obtaining the court order or search warrant, shall reimburse the political subdivision in which the premises is located for the assistance of its law enforcement officers in executing the court order or search warrant, and shall deposit the remainder in the state treasury to the credit of the high volume breeder kennel control license fund created in section 956.18 of the Revised Code.

(H) A dog warden appointed under Chapter 955. of the Revised Code or an agent of a humane society entering on public or private property to make investigations and inspections in accordance with Chapter 955. or 1717. of the Revised Code, as applicable, shall report any violations of this chapter and rules adopted under it to the director or the director's authorized representative.

Sec. 956.11. (A) The director of agriculture may enter into contracts or agreements with an animal rescue for dogs, an animal shelter for dogs, a boarding kennel, a veterinarian, a board of county commissioners, or a humane society for the purposes of this section.

(B)(1) If the director or the director's authorized representative determines that a dog is being kept by a high volume breeder or dog retailer in a manner that materially violates this chapter or rules adopted under it, the director may impound the dog and order it to be seized by an animal rescue for dogs, an animal shelter for dogs, a boarding kennel, a veterinarian, a board of county commissioners, or a humane society with which the director has entered into a contract or agreement under division (A) of this section. Upon receiving the order from the director, the animal rescue for dogs, animal shelter for dogs, boarding kennel, veterinarian, board of county commissioners, or humane society shall seize the dog and keep, house, and maintain it.

(2) The director or the director's authorized representative shall give written notice of the impoundment by posting a notice on the door of the premises from which the dog was taken or by otherwise posting the notice in a conspicuous place at the premises from which the dog was taken. The notice shall provide a date for an adjudication hearing, which shall take place not later than five business days after the dog is taken and at which the director shall determine if the dog should be permanently relinquished to the custody of the director.

(C) The owner or operator of the applicable high volume breeder or the person acting as or performing the functions of a dog retailer may appeal the determination made at the adjudication hearing in accordance with section 119.12 of the Revised Code, except that the appeal may be made only to the environmental division of the Franklin county municipal court.

(D) If, after the final disposition of an adjudication hearing and any appeals from that adjudication hearing, it is determined that a dog shall be permanently relinquished to the custody of the director, the dog may be adopted directly from the animal rescue for dogs, animal shelter for dogs, boarding kennel, veterinarian, county dog pound, or humane society where it is being kept, housed, and maintained, provided that the dog has been spayed or neutered unless there are medical reasons against spaying or neutering as determined by a veterinarian. The animal rescue for dogs, animal shelter for dogs, boarding kennel, veterinarian, county dog pound, or humane society may charge a reasonable adoption fee. The fee shall be at least sufficient to cover the costs of spaying or neutering the dog unless it is medically contraindicated. Impounded dogs shall be returned to persons acquitted of any alleged violations.

Sec. 956.12.  If the director of agriculture or the director's authorized representative determines that a person has violated or is violating this chapter or rules adopted under it, the director may issue and cause to be served by certified mail or personal service a citation of violation and an order requiring the person to cease the acts or practices that constitute a violation of this chapter or rules adopted under it or requiring the person to take corrective actions to eliminate the conditions that constitute a violation of this chapter and rules adopted under it. The order shall state specifically the provision or provisions of this chapter or the rule or rules adopted under this chapter that have been violated and the facts constituting the violation, the actions that the person must take to correct the deficiencies, and the time period within which the person must correct the violations.

Sec. 956.13.  (A) The director of agriculture may assess a civil penalty against a person violating this chapter or rules adopted under it if all of the following occur:

(1) The person has received an order and been notified of the violation by certified mail or personal service as required in section 956.12 of the Revised Code.

(2) After the time period for correcting the violation specified in the order has elapsed, the director or the director's authorized representative has inspected the premises where the violation has occurred and determined that the violation has not been corrected, and the director has issued a notice of an adjudication hearing pursuant to division (A)(3) of this section.

(3) The director affords the person an opportunity for an adjudication hearing under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to challenge the director's determination that the person is not in compliance with this chapter or rules adopted under it, the imposition of the civil penalty, or both. A person may waive the opportunity for an adjudication hearing.

(B) If the opportunity for an adjudication hearing is waived or if, after an adjudication hearing, the director determines that a violation of this chapter or a rule adopted under it has occurred or is occurring, the director may assess a civil penalty. The civil penalty may be appealed in accordance with section 119.12 of the Revised Code, except that the civil penalty may be appealed only to the environmental division of the Franklin county municipal court.

(C) Civil penalties shall be assessed in the following amounts:

(1) A person who has violated division (A)(1) of section 956.04 or division (A)(1) of section 956.05 of the Revised Code shall pay a civil penalty in an amount that is established in rules adopted under section 956.03 of the Revised Code.

(2) A person who has violated any other provision of this chapter or rules adopted under it shall pay a civil penalty of one hundred dollars.

Each day that a violation continues constitutes a separate violation.

Sec. 956.14. The attorney general, upon the request of the director of agriculture, may bring an action for injunction against a person who has violated or is violating this chapter, rules adopted under it, or an order issued under section 956.12 of the Revised Code. An action for injunction shall be filed in the appropriate court in the county in which the violation is alleged to have occurred. The court shall grant such injunctive relief upon a showing that the person against whom the action is brought has violated or is violating this chapter, rules adopted under it, or an order issued under it. The court shall give precedence to such an action over all other cases.

Sec. 956.15.  (A) The director of agriculture shall deny an application for a license that is submitted under section 956.04 or 956.05 of the Revised Code for either of the following reasons:

(1) The applicant for the license has violated any provision of this chapter or a rule adopted under it if the violation materially threatens the health or welfare of a dog.

(2) The applicant, in the past twenty years, has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to violating section 959.01, 959.02, 959.03, 959.13, 959.131, 959.15, or 959.16 of the Revised Code or an equivalent municipal ordinance, law of another state, or law of the federal government or, in the past twenty years, has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to violating more than once section 2919.25 of the Revised Code or an equivalent municipal ordinance, law of another state, or law of the federal government.

(B) The director may suspend or revoke a license issued under this chapter for violation of any provision of this chapter or a rule adopted or order issued under it if the violation materially threatens the health and welfare of a dog.

(C) An application or a license shall not be denied, suspended, or revoked under this section without a written order of the director stating the findings on which the denial, suspension, or revocation is based. A copy of the order shall be sent to the applicant or license holder by certified mail or may be provided to the applicant or license holder by personal service. In addition, the person to whom a denial, suspension, or revocation applies may request an adjudication hearing under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. The director shall comply with such a request. The determination of the director at an adjudication hearing may be appealed in accordance with section 119.12 of the Revised Code, except that the determination may be appealed only to the environmental division of the Franklin county municipal court.

Sec. 956.16.  The director of agriculture, the director's authorized representative, or the attorney general may require the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, records, papers, and dogs that are needed either by the director or the attorney general or by any party to a hearing before the director and for that purpose may issue a subpoena for any witness or a subpoena duces tecum to compel the production of any books, records, papers, or dogs. The subpoena shall be served by personal service or by certified mail. If the subpoena is returned because of inability to deliver, or if no return is received within thirty days after the date of mailing, the subpoena may be served by ordinary mail. If no return of ordinary mail is received within thirty days after the date of mailing, service shall be deemed to have been made. If the subpoena is returned because of inability to deliver, the director or the attorney general may designate a person or persons to effect either personal or residence service on the witness. The person designated to effect personal or residence service under this section may be the sheriff of the county in which the witness resides or may be found or any other duly designated person. The fees and mileage of the person serving the subpoena shall be the same as those allowed by the courts of common pleas in criminal cases and shall be paid from the funds of the department of agriculture. Fees and mileage for the witness shall be the same as those allowed for witnesses by the courts of common pleas in criminal cases and, upon request of the witness following the hearing, shall be paid from the money in the high volume breeder kennel control license fund created in section 956.18 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 956.17.  (A) There is hereby created the commercial dog breeding advisory board consisting of all of the following members:

(1) The state veterinarian in the department of agriculture;

(2) The following six members appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate:

(a) One member representing a humane society;

(b) One member who is a county dog warden;

(c) One member who is a veterinarian;

(d) One member representing animal rescues for dogs in this state;

(e) One member who is a member of a professional dog breeding association in this state;

(f) One member representing the public.

Initial appointments to the board shall be made not later than sixty days after the effective date of this section. Of the initial appointments, two shall be for one-year terms, two shall be for two-year terms, and two shall be for three-year terms. Thereafter, terms of office of appointed members shall be three years, with each term ending on the same day of the same month as did the term that it succeeds. Each member shall hold office from the date of appointment until the end of the term for which the member was appointed. Members may be reappointed. Vacancies shall be filled in the manner provided for the original appointments. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration date of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office for the remainder of the term. A member shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration date of the member's term until the member's successor takes office or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first.

(B) The director of agriculture shall select a chairperson from among the board's members. A majority of the members of the board constitutes a quorum. The board shall meet at least four times a year in Columbus or at other locations selected by the chairperson. The chairperson shall determine the agenda for each meeting of the board.

Members of the board shall serve without compensation for attending board meetings. Members of the board shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of official duties as members of the board.

(C) The board shall do both of the following:

(1) Review rules that have been or are proposed to be adopted under section 956.03 of the Revised Code;

(2) Advise the director on the administration of this chapter and rules adopted under it.

Sec. 956.18. (A) All money collected by the director of agriculture from license fees under section 956.08 and civil penalties assessed under section 956.13 of the Revised Code shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the high volume breeder kennel control license fund, which is hereby created. The fund shall also consist of money appropriated to it.

(B) No money may be released from the fund without controlling board approval. The director shall request the controlling board to release money in an amount not to exceed two million five hundred thousand dollars per biennium.

(C) The director shall use the money in the fund for the purpose of administering this chapter and rules adopted under it.

Sec. 1901.183.  In addition to jurisdiction otherwise granted in this chapter, the environmental division of a municipal court shall have jurisdiction within its territory in all of the following actions or proceedings and to perform all of the following functions:

(A) Notwithstanding any monetary limitations in section 1901.17 of the Revised Code, in all actions and proceedings for the sale of real or personal property under lien of a judgment of the environmental division of the municipal court, or a lien for machinery, material, fuel furnished, or labor performed, irrespective of amount, and, in those cases, the environmental division 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;

(B) When in aid of execution of a judgment of the environmental division of the municipal court, 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 real property is situated within the territory, and, in those cases, the environmental division may proceed to foreclose all liens and all vested and contingent rights and proceed to render judgments, and make findings and orders, between the parties, in the same manner and to the same extent as in similar cases in the court of common pleas;

(C) When in aid of execution of a judgment of the environmental division of the municipal court, in all actions for the recovery of real property situated within the territory to the same extent as courts of common pleas have jurisdiction;

(D) In all actions for injunction to prevent or terminate violations of the ordinances and regulations of any municipal corporation within its territory enacted or promulgated under the police power of that municipal corporation pursuant to Section 3 of Article XVIII, Ohio Constitution, over which the court of common pleas has or may have jurisdiction, and, in those cases, the environmental division of the municipal court may proceed to render judgments, and make findings and orders, in the same manner and to the same extent as in similar cases in the court of common pleas;

(E) In all actions for injunction to prevent or terminate violations of the resolutions and regulations of any political subdivision within its territory enacted or promulgated under the power of that political subdivision pursuant to Article X of the Ohio Constitution, over which the court of common pleas has or may have jurisdiction, and, in those cases, the environmental division of the municipal court may proceed to render judgments, and make findings and orders, in the same manner and to the same extent as in similar cases in the court of common pleas;

(F) In any civil action to enforce any provision of Chapter 3704., 3714., 3734., 3737., 3767., or 6111. of the Revised Code over which the court of common pleas has or may have jurisdiction, and, in those actions, the environmental division of the municipal 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;

(G) In all actions and proceedings in the nature of creditors' bills, and in aid of execution to subject the interests of a judgment debtor in real or personal property to the payment of a judgment of the division, and, in those actions and proceedings, the environmental division may proceed to marshal and foreclose all liens on the property irrespective of the amount of the lien, and all vested or contingent rights in the property;

(H) Concurrent jurisdiction with the court of common pleas of all criminal actions or proceedings related to the pollution of the air, ground, or water within the territory of the environmental division of the municipal court, for which a sentence of death cannot be imposed under Chapter 2903. of the Revised Code;

(I) In any review or appeal of any final order of any administrative officer, agency, board, department, tribunal, commission, or other instrumentality that relates to a local building, housing, air pollution, sanitation, health, fire, zoning, or safety code, ordinance, or regulation, in the same manner and to the same extent as in similar appeals in the court of common pleas;

(J) With respect to the environmental division of the Franklin county municipal court, to hear appeals from adjudication hearings conducted under Chapter 956. of the Revised Code.

SECTION 2.  That existing sections 955.02, 955.10, 955.12, 955.20, 955.26, and 1901.183 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.

SECTION 3. It is the intent of the General Assembly to appropriate money to the High Volume Breeder Kennel Control License Fund created in section 956.18 of the Revised Code to enable the Director of Agriculture to begin administering Chapter 956. of the Revised Code and rules adopted under it.