HB 2241
Initials JL Page 1 Judiciary
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-sixth Legislature
Second Regular Session
HB 2241: bestiality; visual depiction; minors
Sponsor: Representative Willoughby, LD 13
Committee on Judiciary
Overview
Establishes an additional form of the bestiality involving a visual depiction in which a person
is engaging in oral sexual contact, sexual contact or sexual intercourse with an animal.
History
Under current law, a person commits bestiality by knowingly doing either of the following:
1) engaging in oral sexual contact, sexual contact or sexual intercourse with an animal,
which is a class 6 felony; or
2) causing another person to engage in oral sexual contact, sexual contact or sexual
intercourse with an animal, which is a class 3 felony punishable as a dangerous crime
against children if the other person is a minor below the age of 15.
In addition to any other penalties, the court may order that a person convicted of bestiality
undergo psychological assessment; participate in appropriate counseling at the person's own
expense; and/or reimburse an animal shelter for reasonable costs incurred for the care and
maintenance of any animal that was taken to the animal shelter as a result of the offense.
Criminal liability for bestiality does not apply to the following activities:
1) accepted veterinary medical practices performed by a licensed veterinarian or
veterinary technician;
2) insemination of animals by the same species, bred for commercial purposes; or
3) accepted animal husbandry practices that provide necessary care for animals bred for
commercial purposes.
For purposes of this offense, animal is defined as a nonhuman mammal, bird, reptile or
amphibian, either dead or alive (A.R.S. § 13-1411). Other applicable terms such as oral sexual
contact, sexual contact and sexual intercourse are also defined in statute (A.R.S. § 13-1401).
Provisions
1. Adds that a person commits bestiality by knowingly possessing, distributing,
transporting, exhibiting, receiving, selling, purchasing, electronically transmitting,
possessing or exchanging any visual depiction in which a person is engaging in oral sexual
contact, sexual contact or sexual intercourse with an animal. (Sec. 1)
2. Classifies this new form of bestiality as a class 1 misdemeanor, unless the depicted person
is a minor under the age of 15, in which case the offense becomes a class 6 felony. (Sec. 1)
3. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note