Crimes against animals and providing a penalty

Under the bill, a person who recklessly mistreats an animal, fails to provide an animal for which they are responsible with proper food, water, or shelter, or abandons an animal is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor if the animal suffers bodily harm, except that if the person commits the violation in the presence of a child under the age of 18, the person is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. If the animal suffers great bodily harm, the person is guilty of a Class H felony, except that if the person commits the violation in the presence of a child under the age of 18, the person is guilty of a Class G felony. If the animal dies as a result of the person's actions, the person is guilty of a Class F felony, except that if the person commits the violation in the presence of a child under the age of 18, the person is guilty of a Class E felony.

The bill makes it illegal for a person to cause a child under the age of 18 to mistreat an animal. A person who does so is guilty of a Class F felony if the child is under the age of 13 and is guilty of a Class H felony if the child has attained the age of 13 but is under the age of 18.

Under the bill, a sentencing court may order a person who is guilty of felony animal mistreatment, failure to provide proper food, water, or shelter, or abandonment to undergo a psychological assessment and to participate in anger management or psychological counseling or treatment.

Under current law, a judge or circuit court commissioner may issue a temporary restraining order or grant an injunction that bars a person who has committed certain violations from contacting or approaching the victim of his or her actions.

Under the bill, a judge or circuit court commissioner may include in the restraining order or injunction an order for the person to refrain from mistreating or threatening to mistreat an animal that the victim owns or cares for.

Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report concerning the proposed penalty and the costs or savings that are likely to result if the bill is enacted.