SPONSOR: Burnett
This bill increases the penalty for animal abuse from a class A misdemeanor to a class E felony. In instances where the defendant has been previously found guilty of animal abuse or where the defendant has been found guilty of consciously torturing or mutilating an animal while it was alive, the penalty is increased from a class E felony to a class D felony.
Beginning January 1, 2021, this bill requires the State Highway Patrol to post a publicly accessible list on its website of any person convicted of an animal abuse offense on or after January 1, 2021. The bill specifies what information must be included and what information may not be included. All circuit court clerks must forward a copy of a judgment and certain information to the State Highway Patrol within 60 days of the judgment.
Upon a person's first conviction for an animal abuse offense, the State Highway Patrol must keep his or her name and identifying information on the list for two years following the date of conviction. Upon a person's second or subsequent conviction for an animal abuse offense, the State Highway Patrol must keep his or her name and identifying information on the list for five years following the date of conviction. The State Highway Patrol must remove a person's name and information from the registry if the sole offense for which the person is listed is expunged.
This bill is the same as HB 44 (2019).
Statutes affected: