SB 1198 Summary

• Creates new felony offense for intentionally or knowingly killing or seriously harming a service animal without legal privilege or consent of owner (class 5 felony).

• Creates new felony offense for intentionally or knowingly killing or causing serious harm to a working animal without legal privilege or consent of owner (class 5 felony).

• Establishes felony penalties (class 5) for intentionally or knowingly killing a domestic animal without legal privilege or consent of the owner.

• Modifies animal cruelty classification scheme to increase penalties for certain intentional and knowing violations from misdemeanor to felony offenses.

• Clarifies that persons convicted of animal cruelty offenses cannot own, possess, or have contact with animals for specified periods (5 years for first misdemeanor, 10 years for first felony, lifetime for second felony conviction).