No. CS/HB 559
Filed under Criminal Justice.
Animal Welfare; Creating the offense of causing or enticing a minor to commit, or in the presence of a minor committing, animal cruelty; requiring a court to order a minor who commits specified acts of animal cruelty to undergo a psychological evaluation and receive counseling and treatment for a specified time period; requiring the minor's parent or guardian or the state to pay the cost of such evaluation, counseling, and treatment; providing an exception; authorizing the court to hold the parent or guardian in contempt under certain circumstances; requiring the Department of Law Enforcement to post on its website specified information relating to each individual convicted of specified animal cruelty offenses; specifying time periods for which the information shall be posted; requiring the department to develop a procedure to allow a person to petition for the removal of his or her information under specified circumstances; requiring the department to remove specified information under specified circumstances; specifying the time period within which such information must be removed; authorizing the department to adopt rules; requiring clerks of court and county detention facilities to provide the Department of Law Enforcement with specified information, data, and images; creating the offense of causing or enticing a minor to commit, or in the presence of a minor committing, fighting or baiting animals; creating the offense of causing or enticing a minor to commit, or in the presence of a minor committing, sexual activities involving animals; increasing the maximum civil penalty for specified violations of ordinances relating to animal control or cruelty; increasing the level on the offense severity ranking chart for fighting or baiting animals; ranking offenses created by the act on the offense severity ranking chart, etc.
Plain English Summary
AI-GENERATEDAdults who cause or entice a minor to commit animal cruelty, animal fighting, or sexual acts with animals now face a third-degree felony charge.
Juvenile courts must order psychological evaluations and treatment for minors convicted of animal cruelty, with parents or the state paying the costs.
The Department of Law Enforcement must publicly post detailed personal information and photos of individuals convicted of animal cruelty offenses on its website.
Local governments may now impose civil penalties up to $7,500 for repeat violations of animal control or cruelty ordinances.
AICreates a third-degree felony for adults who cause or entice a minor to commit animal cruelty, or commit it in a minor's presence.
AIRequires juvenile courts to order psychological evaluation and counseling for minors convicted of animal cruelty, with costs paid by parents or the state.
AIRaises the maximum civil penalty for local animal control or cruelty ordinance violations from $500 to $2,500 for a first offense, $5,000 for a second, and $7,500 for subsequent offenses.
AICreates a third-degree felony for adults who cause or entice a minor to commit animal fighting or baiting, or commit it in a minor's presence.
AICreates a third-degree felony for adults who cause or entice a minor to commit sexual activities involving animals, or commit it in a minor's presence.