Existing law makes it a crime to maliciously and intentionally maim, mutilate, torture, wound, or kill a living animal. If a defendant is granted probation for a conviction of this offense, existing law requires the court to order the defendant to complete counseling designed to evaluate and treat behavior or conduct disorders.
This bill would delete the requirement that a defendant granted probation complete counseling and would instead require a defendant convicted of specified offenses against animals and granted probation or a suspended sentence to undergo a psychological or psychiatric evaluation and to undergo any treatment that the court determines to be appropriate after considering the evaluation. The court would require the defendant to pay for the treatment, but would authorize the court to establish a sliding fee schedule based on the defendant's ability to pay. The bill would additionally make records related to this evaluation and treatment confidential, as specified.
The bill would also require the court, for a defendant granted probation or a suspended sentence for a conviction of specified crimes, to consider whether to order the defendant to complete a responsible animal owner education course, as specified.
Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest.
This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.

Statutes affected:
SB580: 597 PEN
02/22/19 - Introduced: 597 PEN
05/17/19 - Amended Senate: 597 PEN
05/22/19 - Amended Senate: 597 PEN