H-203                _______________________________________________

                                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 186

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Representatives Madsen, Miller, Todd, Walk, P. King, Winsley and Isaacson

Read first time 1/23/85 and referred to Committee on Agriculture.

AN ACT Relating to mutilation of animals; and adding a new section to chapter 16.52 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 16.52 RCW to read as follows:

          Societies incorporated as authorized or recognized under RCW 16.52.020 are encouraged to establish response teams to assist local law enforcement officials in securing evidence in cases involving the mutilation of animals.  A society's proposal for providing such a response team shall include any training necessary, including the maintenance of chains of custody, and shall be submitted to the local law enforcement agency for approval.  If a proposal is approved, reports of animal mutilation and information regarding property owners' consent shall immediately be forwarded to such a response team whenever immediate response by law enforcement personnel is not possible.  Sixty days after such a proposal has been submitted by such a society, the proposal shall be deemed to be approved and shall be implemented by the local law enforcement agency unless it has been disapproved by a vote of that agency's local legislative authority.

          A member of a response team who conducts activities at the scene of a reported incident in response to such a report is immune from civil action for damages arising out of such activities if the activities are performed in the manner outlined by the response team proposal approved by the local law enforcement agency and are performed within the geographic jurisdiction of that agency.  Members of such a response team shall serve without compensation from the local law enforcement agency other than such reimbursement of expenses as the agency may provide.