Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 245 (2020GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Acton, C.K.

Final action

House/ filed 3/12/2020

Outcome

Failed / filed without passage

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• defines terms;
• prohibits restricting a dog in watershed areas that under certain circumstances never leaves a motor vehicle;
• establishes the scope of the provision; and
• addresses signs

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

DOGS IN WATERSHED AREAS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Cheryl K. Acton
Senate Sponsor: 
 Daniel McCay
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill addresses the ability to have a dog in a motor vehicle within a watershed area.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ defines terms;
▸ prohibits restricting a dog in watershed areas that under certain circumstances never
leaves a motor vehicle;
▸ establishes the scope of the provision; and
▸ addresses signs
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
ENACTS:
73-1-20
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
73-1-20
 is enacted to read:
 73-1-20.
Dogs in watershed areas.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Motor vehicle" means a self-propelled vehicle, except a motorcycle, intended
primarily for use and operation on the highways.
(b) "Passenger compartment" means an enclosed area of a motor vehicle normally
occupied by the operator and passengers.
(c) "Permitted watershed dog" means a dog whose owner complies with a political
subdivision's requirements that authorize the dog to be in a watershed area.
(d) "Political subdivision" means:
(i) a county;
(ii) a municipality, as defined in Section 
10-1-104
;
(iii) a local district operating under Title 17B, Limited Purpose Local Government
Entities - Local Districts;
(iv) special service district, as defined in Section 
17D-1-102
;
(v) conservation district, as defined in Section 
17D-3-102
; or
(vi) a department, agency, office, division, or other unit of a political subdivision.
(e) "Service dog" means a guide dog, signal dog, or other dog trained to provide
assistance to an individual with a disability.
(f) "Watershed area" means an area of land that is designated as watershed.
(2) A political subdivision or state agency may not prohibit an individual from
transporting a dog in a watershed area if:
(a) while in the watershed area the dog remains at all times in the passenger
compartment of a motor vehicle used to travel in the watershed area; and
(b) an individual who holds a valid driver license remains in the passenger
compartment of the motor vehicle with the dog at all times the motor vehicle is in the
watershed area.
(3) This section does not apply to a permitted watershed dog or the following while
acting in the dog's official capacity:
(a) a service dog;
(b) a search and rescue dog; or
(c) a dog used in law enforcement work.
(4) This section does not prohibit a political subdivision from allowing a dog within a
watershed area under conditions imposed by the political subdivision.
(5) On and after July 1, 2020, signs posted by a political subdivision related to
prohibiting of dogs in a watershed area shall state the exception of dogs in enclosed motor
vehicles.