AB 401

Under current law, with limited exceptions, no person may treat an animal in

a cruel manner. The penalties for a treating an animal in a cruel matter depend upon

the extent of injury to the animal and whether the person acted negligently or

intentionally. Under current law, a person who intentionally treats an animal in a

cruel manner resulting in mutilation, disfigurement, or death to the animal, is guilty

of a Class I felony and may be fined up to $10,000, imprisoned for up to three years

and six months, or both.

Under this bill, a person who intentionally treats an animal in a cruel manner

resulting in great bodily harm, mutilation, disfigurement, or death to the animal is

guilty of a Class I felony. Great bodily harm means bodily injury which creates a

substantial risk of death, or which causes serious permanent disfigurement, or

which causes a permanent or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any

bodily member or organ or other serious bodily injury.

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.