HB 1012 Summary

• Defines "law enforcement animal" as any dog, horse, or other animal used by law enforcement or corrections agencies trained in tracking, suspect apprehension, crowd control, drug detection, or explosives detection.

• Creates the felony offense of cruelty to a law enforcement animal in the first degree for intentionally or knowingly striking, beating, kicking, shooting, or poisoning a law enforcement animal resulting in substantial injury or death while performing duties, classified as a class C felony.

• Creates the misdemeanor offense of cruelty to a law enforcement animal in the second degree for intentionally or knowingly causing injury to a law enforcement animal or recklessly causing substantial injury or death while the animal is performing duties.

• Requires courts to order restitution to the law enforcement agency or animal owner for veterinary costs, replacement costs if the animal is killed or disabled, and lost wages for the handler.

• Provides affirmative defense that the law enforcement animal was not handled according to well-recognized national handling procedures or in violation of the agency's policies.