HB5143 Summary

• Amends the Animal Research and Production Facilities Protection Act to create three distinct offenses: animal facility tampering, animal facility interference, and animal facility fraud, replacing previous prohibited acts language.

• Animal facility tampering includes releasing, stealing, or killing animals; destroying or damaging facility property; disrupting operations related to agricultural production, animal maintenance, veterinary care, or scientific purposes; and entering with intent to commit unauthorized acts.

• Animal facility interference is a Class A misdemeanor for first offense and Class 4 felony for subsequent offenses, covering creating/possessing recordings made at facilities, exercising control over animals or property with intent to deprive the facility, and entering facilities not open to the public.

• Animal facility fraud is a Class 4 to Class 1 felony (depending on loss amount from $300 to exceeding $100,000) and includes obtaining access by false pretenses, theft or deception of facility property, and making false statements on employment applications with intent to commit unauthorized acts.

• Adds civil remedy provisions allowing damages of treble the amount of actual damages plus court costs and attorney fees, and creates exemptions for persons with legal interest in the facility, governmental agencies, and licensed veterinarians.