AB368: Bill Text

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2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE

2021 Assembly BILL 368

May 27, 2021 - Introduced by Representatives Spiros, Armstrong, Baldeh, Brandtjen, Cabral-Guevara, Callahan, Dittrich, Duchow, Gundrum, Kitchens, Milroy, Moses, Pronschinske, Schraa, Sinicki, Skowronski, Snodgrass, Steffen, Tusler, Zimmerman and Edming, cosponsored by Senators Wanggaard, Carpenter, Cowles, Jacque and Smith. Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

AB368,1,3 An Act to amend 951.01 (2), 951.02, 951.18 (1) and 951.18 (4) (c); and to create 951.01 (3c) of the statutes; relating to: grievous bodily harm to or the death of an animal and providing a penalty.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, a person who commits an act of animal abuse is subject to a Class C forfeiture, unless the animal abuse results in the mutilation, disfigurement, or death of the animal, in which case the person is guilty of a Class I felony. Under current law, animal abuse means treating an animal in a cruel manner, but the prohibition on animal abuse does not prohibit normal and accepted veterinary practices.

Under this bill, the prohibition on animal abuse also does not prohibit training or hunting with dogs in the manner authorized by the department of natural resources. Under this bill, a person who commits an act of animal abuse is guilty of a Class H felony if the animal abuse results in grievous bodily harm to or the death of the animal and is guilty of a Class I felony if the person knows or reasonably should know that the animal abuse may result in grievous bodily harm to or the death of an animal, regardless of whether grievous bodily harm or death occurs.

Under current law, a court may order that a person who commits an act of animal abuse may not own, possess, or train any animal or type or species of animal for a period specified by the court, but not to exceed five years. Under the bill, the court may enter such an order, including an order that the person may not reside with any animal or type or species of animal, if the person is convicted of a misdemeanor violation, and must enter such an order, including an order that the person may not reside with any animal or type or species of animal, for a period of up to fifteen years if the person is convicted of a felony violation.

Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB368,1 Section 1. 951.01 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB368,2,3 951.01 (2) “Cruel" means causing or engaging in actions that are likely to cause unnecessary and excessive pain or suffering or unjustifiable injury or death.

AB368,2 Section 2 . 951.01 (3c) of the statutes is created to read:

AB368,2,9 951.01 (3c) “Grievous bodily harm" means serious bodily injury, including fractured or dislocated bones, deep cuts, burns, torn members of the body, tissue damage as a result of exposure to cold temperatures, serious damage to internal organs, starvation, or other severe bodily injuries. In the case of farm animals, grievous bodily harm does not include normally acceptable husbandry practices.

AB368,3 Section 3. 951.02 of the statutes is amended to read:

AB368,2,14 951.02 Mistreating animals. No person may treat any animal, whether belonging to the person or another, in a cruel manner. This section does not prohibit normal and accepted veterinary practices or training or hunting with dogs in the manner authorized under ch. 29.

AB368,4 Section 4. 951.18 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB368,3,11 951.18 (1) Any person violating s. 951.02, 951.025, 951.03, 951.04, 951.05, 951.06, 951.07, 951.09, 951.10, 951.11, 951.13, 951.14 or 951.15 is subject to a Class C forfeiture. Any person who violates any of these provisions within 3 years after a humane officer issues an abatement order under s. 173.11 prohibiting the violation of that provision is subject to a Class A forfeiture. Any person who intentionally or negligently violates any of those sections is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Any person who intentionally violates s. 951.02, resulting in the mutilation, disfigurement grievous bodily harm to or the death of an animal, is guilty of a Class I H felony. Any person who intentionally violates s. 951.02 and who knows or reasonably should know that his or her actions may result in grievous bodily harm to or the death of an animal, regardless of whether grievous bodily harm or death occurs, is guilty of a Class I felony. Any person who intentionally violates s. 951.02 or 951.06, knowing that the animal that is the victim is used by a law enforcement agency to perform agency functions or duties and causing injury to the animal, is guilty of a Class I felony.

AB368,5 Section 5. 951.18 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB368,3,20 951.18 (4) (c) Except as provided in s. 951.08 (2m), a sentencing court may order that the criminal violator a person convicted of a misdemeanor violation may not own, possess, reside with, or train any animal or type or species of animal for a period specified by the court, but not to exceed 5 years, and a sentencing court shall order that a person convicted of a felony violation may not own, possess, reside with, or train any animal or type or species of animal for a period specified by the court, not to exceed 15 years. In computing the time period, time which the person spent in actual confinement serving a sentence shall be excluded.

AB368,3,21 (End)