HB 1775 -
By Senator Kline
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 (1) It is unlawful for a person to, with
malice, kill or cause substantial bodily harm to livestock belonging to
another person, without consent of the owner.
(2) A violation of this section constitutes a class C felony.
(3) This section does not apply to individuals meeting the
definition of slaughterer or packer, as those terms are defined in RCW
16.50.110, who, when conducting activities consistent with those
definitions, do so in furtherance of their responsibilities in the
regular course of employment.
(4) For the purposes of this section, "malice" has the same meaning
as provided in RCW 9A.04.110, but applied to acts against livestock.
Sec. 2 RCW 4.24.320 and 2005 c 419 s 2 are each amended to read
as follows:
Any person ((who suffers damage to)) whose livestock is damaged as
a result of actions described in RCW 16.52.205 or any owner of
livestock who suffers damage as a result of a willful, unauthorized act
described in RCW 9A.56.080 ((or)), 9A.56.083, or section 1 of this act
may bring an action against the person or persons committing the act in
a court of competent jurisdiction for exemplary damages up to three
times the actual damages sustained, plus attorney's fees. As used in
this section, "livestock" means the animals specified in RCW 9A.56.080.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3 Section 1 of this act constitutes a new
chapter in Title
HB 1775 -
By Senator
On page 1, line 2 of the title, after "person;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "amending RCW 4.24.320; adding a new chapter to Title 16 RCW; and prescribing penalties."
EFFECT: Makes the term "livestock" uniform throughout the bill.
Clarifies that "harm" done to livestock must be "substantial bodily
harm."
Makes it unlawful for a person to, with malice, kill or cause
substantial bodily harm to livestock belonging to another person,
without that person's consent.
A violation of section 1 of this bill is a class C felony rather
than a class B felony.
Clarifies that those individuals defined as "slaughterers" or
"packers" are only exempt from the penalties in section 1 of this bill
if they conduct activities consistent with and in furtherance of their
responsibilities in the regular course of employment.