The bill amends Section 12-29-2 of the Domestic Violence Prevention Act to expand the definition of domestic violence to include specific offenses related to animal cruelty. The new legal language introduces several offenses, including unnecessary cruelty to an animal owned or cared for by a household member, malicious injury to or killing of such an animal, and abandonment of an animal owned or cared for by a household member. These additions aim to recognize the impact of domestic violence on animals within the household context.

The bill retains the existing definitions of domestic violence, family or household member, protective order, and victim. It does not remove any references to electronic tracking of motor vehicles as a form of domestic violence. The act is set to take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
2723: 12-29-2