House File 2104 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 2104 BY DONAHUE A BILL FOR An Act relating to animal torture and providing penalties. 1 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 2 TLSB 5859YH (2) 89 as/rh

H.F. 2104 Section 1. Section 717B.3A, subsections 4 and 5, Code 2022, 1 are amended to read as follows: 2 4. A person who commits animal torture is guilty of an 3 aggravated misdemeanor a class “D” felony . 4 5. Notwithstanding subsection 4 , a person who commits 5 animal torture is guilty of a class “D” “C” felony if the 6 person has previously been convicted of committing animal 7 abuse pursuant to section 717B.2 , animal neglect punishable 8 as a serious misdemeanor or aggravated misdemeanor pursuant 9 to section 717B.3 , animal torture pursuant to this section , 10 injury to or interference with a police service dog pursuant to 11 section 717B.9 , bestiality pursuant to section 717C.1 , or an 12 act involving a contest event prohibited in section 717D.2 . 13 EXPLANATION 14 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 15 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 16 This bill relates to animal torture. 17 Current law under Code section 717B.3A provides that a 18 person who commits animal torture is guilty of an aggravated 19 misdemeanor for a first offense, or a class “D” felony if the 20 person has previously been convicted of committing animal 21 abuse under Code section 717B.2, animal neglect punishable as 22 a serious misdemeanor or aggravated misdemeanor under Code 23 section 717B.3, animal torture, injury to or interference with 24 a police service dog under Code section 717B.9, bestiality 25 under Code section 717C.1, or an act involving an animal 26 contest event under Code section 717D.2. 27 The bill increases the penalty for a first offense of animal 28 torture to a class “D” felony, and to a class “C” felony if 29 the person has previously been convicted of committing animal 30 abuse, animal neglect punishable as a serious misdemeanor 31 or aggravated misdemeanor, animal torture, injury to or 32 interference with a police service dog, bestiality, or an act 33 involving an animal contest event. 34 A class “D” felony is punishable by confinement for no more 35 -1- LSB 5859YH (2) 89 as/rh 1/ 2

H.F. 2104 than five years and a fine of at least $1,025 but not more than 1 $10,245. A class “C” felony is punishable by confinement for 2 no more than 10 years and a fine of at least $1,370 but not more 3 than $13,660. 4 -2- LSB 5859YH (2) 89 as/rh 2/ 2