S.B. 205 Summary

• Increases penalties for causing serious physical harm to or killing a companion animal from a first-degree misdemeanor to a fifth-degree felony for first offense.

• Changes penalties for organizing, promoting, aiding, or abetting animal cruelty from a fifth-degree felony to a fourth-degree felony.

• Makes conviction under the serious animal cruelty provision (division C(1) of section 959.131) ineligible for record expungement.

• Specifies that "serious physical harm" includes injuries from cruel beating, mutilation/maiming, poisoning, or deprivation of food and water that causes prolonged pain or death.