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GA HB863
Bill
Status
Passed
4/22/2014
Primary Sponsor
Rich Golick
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AI Summary
- Redefines the offense of cruelty to animals to include two distinct acts: causing unjustifiable physical pain, suffering, or death to an animal, and failing to provide adequate food, water, sanitary conditions, or ventilation to an animal in one's custody
- Adds a statutory definition of "malice" (actual intent to cause harm or wanton/willful conduct with awareness of strong likelihood of harm) and removes the prior definition of "willful neglect"
- Increases penalties for repeat offenders of cruelty to animals to a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature, recognizing prior convictions from any U.S. state, territory, or recognized foreign nation, including juvenile adjudications
- Increases the maximum prison sentence for repeat aggravated cruelty to animals from 5 to 10 years and sets the maximum fine at $100,000
- Expands and clarifies justification provisions, allowing a person to injure or kill an animal to defend against an imminent threat to any person, other animal, or property, but adds exceptions barring justification when the threatened person is committing a crime, the threatened person or animal is trespassing, or the threatened animal is not lawfully on the property
Legislative Description
Crimes and offenses; cruelty to animals and aggravated cruelty to animals; change provisions
Last Action
Effective Date
7/1/2014
Full Bill Text
No bill text available