HB489--ANIMALCONFISCATION
SPONSOR: VanSchoiack
Thisbillchangesthelawsregardingtheconfiscationofanimals.
Initsmainprovisions,thebill:
(1)Specifiesthatawarrantissuedunderthebillmustbeserved
inthepresenceofalawenforcementofficial;
(2)Requiresapersonactingundertheauthorityofawarrantto
appearatadispositionhearingbeforethecourtthroughwhichthe
warrantwasissuedwithin10daysoftheconfiscation,insteadof
beinggivenadispositionhearingwithin30daysofthefilingof
therequest,forthepurposeofgrantingimmediatedispositionof
theanimals. Ananimalcannotbesterilizedbeforethecompletion
ofthedispositionhearingunlessitisnecessarytosavelifeor
relievesuffering;
(3)Allowsathirdpartyapprovedbythecourttocarefor
confiscatedanimals;
(4)Specifiesthattheownerofanyanimalthathasbeen
confiscatedcannotberesponsiblefortheanimal’scareandkeeping
priortoadispositionhearingifatthehearing,thereisno
findingofabusebythecourtandthecourtorderstheanimals
returnedtotheowner;
(5)Requiresareasonablebondorsecuritytobepostedwithin72
hoursofthedispositionhearinginanamountsufficienttoprovide
forthecareoftheanimalandconsistentwiththefairmarketcost
ofboardingtheanimalinanappropriateretailboardingfacility
iftheowner,custodian,oranypersonclaiminganinterestinan
animalthathasbeenconfiscatedbecauseofneglectorabusewould
liketopreventdispositionoftheanimalafterthedisposition
hearingandwhilethecriminalcaseproceeds. Currently,the
owner,custodian,oranypersonclaiminganinterestinananimal
thathasbeenimpoundedbecauseofneglectorabusemayprevent
dispositionoftheanimalbypostingbondorsecurityinanamount
sufficienttoprovidefortheanimal'scareforatleast30days,
inclusiveofthedateonwhichtheanimalwastakenintocustody;
(6)Specifiesthatallanimalsconfiscatedmustreceiveproper
careasdeterminedbystatelawandregulations. Anyfacilityor
organizationmustbeliabletotheownerfordamagesforany
negligentactorabuseoftheanimalwhichoccurswhiletheanimal
isinitscare,custody,andcontrol; (7)Specifiesthatintheeventthatananimalownerisnotliable
forthecostsincurredwhilethechargeswerepending,thecostsof
careandtheliabilityforthelifeordeathoftheanimaland
medicalproceduresperformedaretheresponsibility ofthe
confiscatingagency;
(8)Allowsanownertodemandthereturnoftheanimalheldin
custodyifheorshepostedasufficientbondandisacquittedor
thereisafinaldischargewithoutaconvictionunlessthereisa
settlementagreement,consentjudgment,orasuspendedimposition
ofsentence. Anyentitywithcare,custody,andcontrolofthe
animalmustimmediatelyreturnittotheownerupondemandand
proofoftheacquittalorfinaldischargewithoutconviction. The
animalownermustnotbeliableforanycostsincurredrelatingto
theplacementorcareoftheanimalwhilethechargeswerepending
unlessthereisasettlementagreement,consentjudgment,ora
suspendedimpositionofsentence;
(9)Specifiesthatanypersonorentitythatintentionally
euthanizes,otherthanaspermissibleundertheprovisionsofthe
bill,orintentionallysterilizesananimalpriortoadisposition
hearingorduringanyperiodforwhichareasonablebondwas
securedfortheanimal’scarewillbeguiltyofaclassB
misdemeanorandisliabletotheownerfordamagesincludingthe
actualvalueoftheanimal.Eachindividualanimalforwhicha
violationoccursisaseparateoffense. Anysecondorsubsequent
violationisaclassAmisdemeanor,andanyentitylicensedunder
statelawmustbesubjecttolicensuresanctionbyitsgoverning
body;and
(10)Requires,intheeventthattheanimalownerisnotliable
forthecostsincurred,theconfiscatingagencytoberesponsible
fortheusualandcustomaryveterinarycostsandfairmarket
boardingfeesandbeliableforthelifeordeathoftheanimaland
formedicalproceduresperformedwhilethechargeswerepending.
ThisbillissimilartoHB2204(2022).