BEFORE THE Department of FISH, WILDLIFE AND PARKS

OF THE STATE OF MONTANA

 

In the matter of the adoption of New Rule I pertaining to dog training

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NOTICE OF DECISION ON PROPOSED RULE ACTIONS

 

TO: All Concerned Persons

 

1.  On May 12, 2017, the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (department) published MAR Notice No. 12-473 pertaining to the proposed adoption of the above-stated rule at page 585 of the 2017 Montana Administrative Register, Issue Number 9. On September 8, 2017, the department published a notice of public hearings and extension of comment period on the proposed adoption of the above-stated rule at page 1447 of the 2017 Montana Administrative Register, Issue Number 17. 

 

2.  Public hearings on the notice of proposed adoption of the above-stated rule were held on October 2, 2017 in Great Falls, Billings, Miles City, and Glasgow, and on October 10, 2017 in Helena, Kalispell, Missoula, and Bozeman. 

 

3.  The department is not adopting the above-stated rule pertaining to dog training. During the first comment period, the department received over 100 written comments both in support of and in opposition to the language that was initially proposed. The Environmental Quality Council (EQC) also objected to the proposed rule. The department amended the proposed rule in an attempt to address issues raised during public comment and by the EQC, and put the amended proposal back out for public comment, including public hearings. The EQC again objected to the amended proposal. The department agreed to not adopt the rule, and instead work with the EQC on addressing concerns with the language currently in statute during the 2019 legislative session.  The EQC asked the department to continue with public comment and the hearings to begin to collect public input on future legislation.  All comments from both public comment periods and the public hearings will be sent to the EQC, and the department will continue to work with the EQC on future legislation pertaining to dog training.

 

 

/s/ Aimee Hawkaluk                                    /s/ Martha Williams

Aimee Hawkaluk                                         Martha Williams

Rule Reviewer                                             Director

                                                                    Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks

 

Certified to the Secretary of State October 30, 2017.