§ 12-4-203. AUTHORIZATION FOR PAYMENT.

(a)

Animal Hearing Board review. The Animal Hearing Board shall review the Health Officer's report and, except as otherwise provided in this section, shall authorize payment to the claimant for the damages recommended by the Health Officer.

(b)

The Board may affirm or modify the damages. The Animal Hearing Board may not change the damages recommended unless it finds that the damages recommended are in excess of the fair market value of all poultry or livestock killed or that the damages were determined in violation of the provisions of this subtitle.

(c)

Board decision final and unappealable.

(1)

The decision of the Animal Hearing Board is final.

(2)

There is no right of appeal from the decision.

(d)

Payment.

(1)

The county shall pay damages authorized to be paid to a claimant under this section in the form of an award from the general fund of the county.

(2)

The claimant's rights, claims, and causes of action on account of the loss shall be assigned to the county to the extent of the damages paid by the county.

(e)

No payment. The county may not make the payment of an award under this section if the owner of the dog causing the damages is or becomes known before payment under subsection (d) of this section.

(1988 Code, § 6-154) (Bill No. 211, 1990, § 1, 1-13-1991; Bill No. 3-00, § 4, 7-1-2004; Bill No. 63-01, § 1, 8-10-2001; Bill No. 72-03, § 24, 7-1-2004; Bill No. 68-13, § 1, 12-29-2013)