Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §3906-B, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1997, c. 690, §2, is further amended to read:

4. Training and certification of animal control officers. The commissioner shall develop a program to train animal control officers. This program must include training in investigation of complaints of cruelty to animals, training in response to calls concerning animals suspected of having rabies and training in enforcement of dog licensing laws and rabies immunization laws. The commissioner shall certify all animal control officers who complete the training program.

Certification of eligibility may be renewed annually as long as the animal control officer completes at least 4 hours of classroom training approved by the commissioner each year.

Sec. 2. 7 MRSA §3906-B, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1997, c. 690, §2, is further amended to read:

4. Training and certification of animal control officers. The commissioner shall develop a program to train animal control officers. This program must include training in investigation of complaints of cruelty to animals, training in response to calls concerning animals suspected of having rabies and training in enforcement of dog licensing laws and rabies immunization laws. The commissioner shall certify all animal control officers who complete the training program.

In addition to the training and certification requirements of this subsection, an animal law enforcement officer must also successfully complete the preservice law enforcement training requirements in Title 25, section 2804-B and the in-service law enforcement training requirements in Title 25, section 2804-E in order to have the power to make arrests or to carry a firearm.__ An animal law enforcement officer is exempt from Title 25, section 2804-C.

Sec. 3. 7 MRSA §3907, sub-§1-A, as amended by PL 1993, c. 657, §1, is further amended to read:

1-A. Abandoned animal. "Abandoned dog animal" means a dog an animal that has been deserted by its owner or keeper.

Sec. 4. 7 MRSA §3907, sub-§4-A is enacted to read:

4-A.__Animal law enforcement officer.__"Animal law enforcement officer" means a person meeting the training requirements of section 3906-B, subsection 4 appointed periodically by a municipality pursuant to chapter 725.