HB485 Summary

• Authorizes animal control officers and law enforcement officers to initiate investigations when a dog is reported to have caused injury to livestock.

• Establishes civil liability for dog owners whose dogs kill or injure livestock off the owner's premises, allowing livestock owners to recover actual damages, compensatory damages, punitive damages, or injunctive relief in court.

• Makes it a Class B misdemeanor for a person to fail to properly restrain a dog known to kill or injure livestock, and a Class C misdemeanor for refusing to surrender such a dog to animal control or law enforcement upon request.

• Repeals existing provisions relating to liability of persons whose dogs harm livestock (Sections 3-1-4 and 3-1-6).

• Requires a 2/3 legislative vote to become effective for local entities unless they approve it independently or the Legislature appropriates funds for implementation; becomes effective on the first day of the third month following passage.