SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5702

                    As of February 14, 1997

Title:  An act relating to animal cruelty.

Brief Description:  Exempting certain practices from the animal cruelty chapter.

Sponsors:  Senators Morton, Rasmussen and Anderson.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Agriculture & Environment:  2/20/97, 2/25/97.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & ENVIRONMENT

Staff:  Richard Duggan (786-7414)

Background:  The 1994 Legislature updated this state's animal cruelty laws.  In the process, the class C felony of animal cruelty in the first degree and the misdemeanor of animal cruelty in the second degree were established, and the gross misdemeanor crime of involvement in dog fighting was broadened to include all animals.  Animal care and control agencies and law enforcement agencies were given the responsibility of enforcing the new laws prohibiting the mistreatment of animals. 

Included in this modernization was an amendment to the law exempting livestock and poultry production and rodeo participation.  The exemption was extended to apply to the customary use and exhibition of animals in fairs.  A dog training exemption of the dog fighting statute was, like the rest of the statute, broadened to exempt the training of any animal from the prohibitions of that statute.

Summary of Bill:  Added to the list of activities exempt from the animal cruelty law is the normal, humane, and usual use of equine for logging, riding, showing, driving or drafting purposes.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.