This bill introduces new procedures for expedited court hearings regarding animals that have been confiscated due to allegations of animal cruelty. It amends RSA 644:8, IV(a)(3) to prioritize cases involving confiscated animals on the court calendar, mandating a status hearing within 14 days of confiscation. The bill includes several key insertions: it establishes that the purpose of the hearing is to determine the legality of the confiscation, allows the court to require the defendant to post a bond of up to $1,000 per animal, and permits the court to make custody determinations based on the animal's best interests. Additionally, if the animal is co-owned, the court may transfer custody to the remaining owner(s) if deemed appropriate.

Further provisions in the bill stipulate that the bond must be posted within 30 days, with a possible extension of 15 days for good cause. If the bond is not posted, the animals will be forfeited to the arresting officer or their agency. The bill also outlines that if the accused fails to appear in court without proper notice, the hearing will proceed as scheduled. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2027, and is projected to have a fiscal impact of less than $10,000 for each fiscal year from 2027 to 2029.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 644:8
As Amended by the Senate: 644:8
SB619 text: 644:8