The proposed bill, if enacted, would amend existing statutes related to animal cruelty by increasing the penalties for certain offenses. Specifically, it would elevate the classification of intentionally or knowingly killing or seriously harming a working or service animal from a class 6 felony to a class 5 felony. Additionally, the bill introduces new language that explicitly states that any applicable justification defense is a valid defense against animal cruelty violations. It also adds the act of injuring a working or service animal to the list of offenses for which a person may be held liable for costs associated with training and replacement of the animal.

Furthermore, the bill makes several deletions and modifications to the current statute, including the removal of outdated language and the reorganization of the numbering of subsections. It clarifies that a person who violates specific subsections related to animal cruelty may face varying degrees of felony charges, depending on the nature of the offense. The bill also stipulates that individuals convicted of these offenses may apply to restore their right to possess animals after a specified period, contingent upon completing certain requirements, including a psychological evaluation.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 13-2910
Senate Engrossed Version: 13-2910, 13-2910.11, 13-417, 17-101
House Engrossed Version: 13-2910, 13-2910.11, 17-101