S-3585               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 4611

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By Senators Halsan, Talmadge, McCaslin, DeJarnatt, Saling, Moore, Williams, Bailey, Kreidler and Johnson

Read first time 1/17/86 and referred to Committee on Judiciary.

AN ACT Relating to pit bull terriers; adding a new section to chapter 16.08 RCW; and prescribing penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 16.08 RCW to read as follows:

          (1) It is unlawful to possess a pit bull without a certificate of registration issued under this section.

          (2) The department of licensing shall issue a certificate of registration to the owner of a pit bull if the owner presents to the department of licensing sufficient evidence of:

          (a) A surety bond issued by a surety insurer qualified under chapter 48.28 RCW in a form acceptable to the department in the sum of at least fifty thousand dollars, payable to any person injured by the pit bull; or

          (b) A policy of liability insurance, such as homeowner's insurance, issued by an insurer qualified under Title 48 RCW in the amount of at least fifty thousand dollars, insuring the owner for any personal injuries inflicted by the pit bull.

          (3) The department of licensing shall adopt such rules as are necessary or desirable for the administration of this section.  The rules shall prescribe registration fees and renewal periods.

          (4) "Pit bull," as used in this section, means a pit bull terrier dog as defined by rule of the department of licensing.

          (5) A violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.