HB 24-1074 Summary

• Defines "law enforcement animal" as a certified working dog or police working horse in Colorado law.

• Creates a new aggravated cruelty offense for knowingly killing or causing serious bodily injury resulting in death of a law enforcement animal, whether on or off duty, with serious bodily injury defined to include substantial risk of death, permanent disfigurement, protracted loss of function, breaks, fractures, penetrating wounds, or second or third degree burns.

• Establishes immunities from criminal liability for licensed veterinarians providing treatment or euthanizing law enforcement animals due to critical injury, and for owners or caretakers reasonably determining an animal is severely injured past recovery.

• Provides affirmative defense allowing physical force against a law enforcement animal when a person reasonably believes the animal is applying unreasonable or excessive force in violation of law.

• Expands peace officer reporting and intervention duties to include instances where a law enforcement animal handler uses excessive physical force or allows their animal to use excessive force.