Kasich signs bill; pit bulls removed from list

February 22, 2012 at 12:07a.m.

COLUMBUS

Gov. John Kasich has signed into law a long-debated bill removing pit bulls from the state’s definition of vicious dog.

Substitute House Bill 14 was one of seven bills sent to Kasich by lawmakers that the governor finalized during private ceremonies Tuesday. All will take effect in 90 days.

HB 14 creates a multitiered system for categorizing potentially dangerous dogs.

“Nuisance” dogs will be used for canines that have chased or attempted to bite people without provocation while off of their owners’ premises.

“Dangerous” dogs will cover those that have had multiple nuisance violations, have injured people or have killed another dog without provocation while away from their owners’ premises.

And “vicious” dogs will be defined as those that have killed or caused serious injury to a person without provocation while away from their owners’ premises.

Owners of dogs in all three categories will face certain requirements for the handling of their pets, with criminal penalties for failing to do so. There also are new potential ownership restrictions for convicted felons.

Other bills signed by Kasich Tuesday included:

HB 32, sponsored by Rep. Ron Amstutz, a Republican from Wooster, makes changes to plan and measurement requirements related to household sewage-treatment systems.

HB 185, sponsored by Rep. Sean O’Brien, a Democrat from Trumbull County, designates the third week of July as Ohio Aggregates and Industrial Minerals Awareness Week.

HB 212 exempts legal custodians from certain adoption placement requirements.

HB 215 designates June 15 as Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

HB 267, sponsored by former state Rep. Todd McKenney, a Republican from the Akron area, makes changes to laws related to nonprofits.

HB 268 modernizes the language in the state’s jury-service law, removing obsolete provisions among other changes.