HCSHB489--CONFISCATIONOFANIMALS(VanSchoiack)
COMMITTEEOFORIGIN:StandingCommitteeonAgriculture
Thisbillchangesthelawsregardingtheconfiscationofanimals.
Initsmainprovisions,thebill:
(1)Specifiesthatalawenforcementofficialmustseekawarrant
toenterprivatepropertytoinspect,carefor,orconfiscate
neglectedorabusedanimals. Currently,eitheralawenforcement
officialoradulyauthorizedpublichealthofficialcanseekthe
warrant;
(2)Prohibitsananimalfrombeingsterilizedbeforethe
completionofthedispositionhearingunlessitisnecessaryto
savelifeorrelievesuffering;
(3)Allowsathirdpartyapprovedbythecourttocarefor
confiscatedanimals;
(4)Specifiesthattheownerofanyanimalthathasbeen
confiscatedcannotberesponsiblefortheanimal’scareandkeeping
priortoadispositionhearingifatthehearing,thereisno
findingofabuseorneglectbythecourtandthecourtordersthe
animalsreturnedtotheowner;
(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).