House File 76
HOUSE FILE
BY HANSEN
Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to the protection of animals from injury or
2 torment in contest events, and providing penalties.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
4 TLSB 1382YH 80
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PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 99B.11, subsection 2, paragraph c, Code
1 2 2003, is amended to read as follows:
1 3 c. Contests or exhibitions of cooking, horticulture,
1 4 livestock, poultry, fish or other animals, artwork, hobbywork
1 5 or craftwork, except those prohibited by section 725.11
1 6 717D.2.
1 7 Sec. 2. Section 709A.1, subsection 2, paragraph c, Code
1 8 2003, is amended to read as follows:
1 9 c. Any premises the use of which constitutes a violation
1 10 of sections section 717D.2, 725.5, or 725.10, or 725.11.
1 11 Sec. 3. Section 717D.2, Code 2003, is amended to read as
1 12 follows:
1 13 717D.2 PROHIBITIONS == CONTEST EVENTS.
1 14 1. A Except as provided in subsection 2, a person shall
1 15 not do is guilty of a class "D" felony if the person does any
1 16 of the following:
1 17 1. a. Own or operate Owns or operates an establishment
1 18 located in this state in which a contest event occurs or is to
1 19 occur.
1 20 2. b. Act Acts as a promoter of a contest event,
1 21 regardless of whether the contest event occurs in this state
1 22 or another state. For purposes of this subsection paragraph,
1 23 a person who aids, abets, or assists in the promotion of a
1 24 contest event shall be deemed to act as a promoter.
1 25 2. A person is guilty of a serious misdemeanor if the
1 26 person does any of the following:
1 27 3. a. Act Acts as a trainer of a contest animal engaged or
1 28 to be engaged in a contest event conducted in this state or
1 29 another state. For purposes of this subsection paragraph, a
1 30 person who aids, abets, or assists in the training of a
1 31 contest animal engaged or to be engaged in a contest event
1 32 shall be deemed to act as a trainer.
1 33 4. b. Act Acts as a transporter moving a contest animal in
1 34 this state.
1 35 5. c. Act Acts as a spectator of a contest event conducted
2 1 in this state, regardless of whether the person paid admission
2 2 to witness the contest event.
2 3 Sec. 4. The following Code sections are repealed:
2 4 1. Section 717D.4, Code 2003.
2 5 2. Section 725.11, Code 2003.
2 6 EXPLANATION
2 7 BACKGROUND. The general assembly enacted Senate File 2268
2 8 (2002 Iowa Acts, ch. 1130), which in part created new Code
2 9 chapter 717D prohibiting activities referred to as "contest
2 10 events" in which certain animals are engaged in fighting
2 11 sports (a bull, bear, chicken, or dog). A person violating a
2 12 provision in new Code chapter 717D is guilty of a serious
2 13 misdemeanor.
2 14 PROVISIONS OF THE BILL. This bill increases the criminal
2 15 penalty applicable to a person who owns or operates an
2 16 establishment located in this state in which a contest event
2 17 occurs or is to occur or who acts as a promoter of a contest
2 18 event. Under the bill, the person is guilty of a class "D"
2 19 felony. A class "D" felony is punishable by confinement for
2 20 no more than five years and a fine of at least $750 but not
2 21 more than $7,500.
2 22 The bill repeals Code section 725.11, which first appeared
2 23 in the Code of 1873, prohibiting animal contests. A person
2 24 who commits a violation of that section is guilty of a serious
2 25 misdemeanor.
2 26 LSB 1382YH 80
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