SLS 18RS-171 ORIGINAL
2018 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 53
BY SENATOR MORRELL
CRIME/PUNISHMENT. Classifies cruelty to animals as a "crime of violence". (8/1/18)
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 14:2(B)(48), relative to crimes of violence; to classify cruelty to animals as
3 a crime of violence; and to provide for related matters.
4 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
5 Section 1. R.S. 14:2(B)(48) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
6 ยง2. Definitions
7 * * *
8 B. In this Code, "crime of violence" means an offense that has, as an element,
9 the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person or
10 property of another, and that, by its very nature, involves a substantial risk that
11 physical force against the person or property of another may be used in the course
12 of committing the offense or an offense that involves the possession or use of a
13 dangerous weapon. The following enumerated offenses and attempts to commit any
14 of them are included as "crimes of violence":
15 * * *
16 (48) Cruelty to animals
Page 1 of 2
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 53
SLS 18RS-171 ORIGINAL
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Alden A. Clement Jr.
DIGEST
SB 53 Original 2018 Regular Session Morrell
Present law provides relative to the crime of cruelty to animals.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law defines a "crime of violence" as an offense that has, as an element, the use,
attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person or property of another,
and that, by its very nature, involves a substantial risk that physical force against the person
or property of another may be used in the course of committing the offense or an offense that
involves the possession or use of a dangerous weapon. Present law enumerates present law
crimes that are classified as "crimes of violence."
Proposed law retains present law and adds the crime of cruelty to animals to the list of
enumerated "crimes of violence".
Effective August 1, 2018.
(Adds R.S. 14:2(B)(48))
Page 2 of 2
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.