92nd General Assembly
Summary of SB0653
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Senate Sponsors:
LAUZEN.

House Sponsors:
JEFFERSON-MCKEON-BRADLEY-DAVIS,MONIQUE-FLOWERS

Short description: 
VICIOUS-DANGEROUS DOG-PENALTY                                              

Synopsis of Bill as introduced:
        Amends the Animal Control Act.  Provides that if a dog  is  found      
   to  be  a  dangerous  dog,  the  dog  must be both muzzled and leashed      
   whenever it is upon a street,  sidewalk,  or  other  public  place  or      
   grounds.   Provides that if the owner of a dangerous dog fails to keep      
   the dog muzzled and leashed as required, and the dog  attacks  another      
   person,  the  owner  is guilty of a Class 4 felony, except that if the      
   owner acted recklessly, the owner is  guilty  of  a  Class  3  felony.      
   Provides  that  if the owner of a dog subject to enclosure (that is, a      
   vicious dog) fails to keep the dog enclosed or as  otherwise  required      
   by law (instead of simply fails to keep the dog enclosed), and the dog      
   attacks  a person, the owner is guilty of a Class 4 felony (instead of      
   a Class A misdemeanor), except that  if  the  owner  acted  recklessly      
   (instead  of  knowingly),  the  owner  is  guilty  of a Class 3 felony      
   (instead of a Class 4 felony).  Effective immediately.                      
        SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 1.                                                
        Provides that if a vicious dog is impounded, it  must  be  either      
   spayed  or  neutered  within  30 days after the impoundment.  Provides      
   that the owner of the dog is liable for the cost  of  the  spaying  or      
   neutering.                                                                  
        SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 2.                                                
        Provides that the owner of a dog subject to enclosure  is  guilty      
   of  a  Class  3  felony if the owner knowingly (instead of recklessly)      
   allowed the dog to run at large or failed to take steps to keep it  in      
   an enclosure.  Provides that the owner of a dangerous dog is guilty of      
   a Class 3 felony if the owner knowingly (instead of recklessly) failed      
   to keep the dog both muzzled and leashed.                                   
        GOVERNOR'S AMENDATORY VETO MESSAGE                                     
        Recommends that current criminal penalties be restored in              
   connection with a failure to keep a vicious dog enclosed (that is,          
   making the offense a Class A misdemeanor unless the owner acted reck-       
   lessly, in which case the offense is a Class 4 felony). (The bill           
   made those offenses a Class 4 felony and Class 3 felony, respec-            
   tively). Provides for the same changes in penalties for offenses in         
   connection with a dangerous dog.                                            
 
Last action on Bill: BILL DEAD-AMENDATORY VETO

   Last action date: NOV-29-2001

           Location: Senate

 Amendments to Bill: AMENDMENTS ADOPTED: HOUSE -   0     SENATE -   2


   END OF INQUIRY 



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