SF 2099 (LSB 6778XS (1) 91)

SENATE FILE 2099

BY  EVANS

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to animal torture, and providing penalties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 717B.3A, subsections 1, 4, and 5, Code 2026, are amended to read as follows:
   1.  A person is guilty of animal torture if the person intentionally or knowingly inflicts on an animal severe and prolonged or repeated physical pain that causes the animal’s serious injury or death crushes, burns, drowns, suffocates, impales, or otherwise subjects an animal to serious injury or death or causes, directs, or provides anything of value to another person to do the same.
   4.  A person who commits animal torture is guilty of an aggravated misdemeanor a class “D” felony.
   5.  Notwithstanding subsection 4, a person who commits animal torture is guilty of a class “D” “C” felony if the person has previously been convicted of committing animal abuse pursuant to section 717B.2, animal neglect punishable as a serious misdemeanor or aggravated misdemeanor pursuant to section 717B.3, animal torture pursuant to this section, injury to or interference with a police service dog pursuant to section 717B.9, bestiality pursuant to section 717C.1, or an act involving a contest event prohibited in section 717D.2.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to animal torture.
   The bill provides that a person is guilty of animal torture if the person intentionally or knowingly crushes, burns, drowns, suffocates, impales, or otherwise subjects an animal to serious injury or death or causes, directs, or provides anything of value to another person to do the same. Current law provides that animal torture is an aggravated misdemeanor. The bill increases the penalty to a class “D” felony. A class “D” felony is punishable by confinement for no more than five years and a fine of at least $1,025 but not more than $10,245.
   The bill provides that a person who has previously been convicted of committing animal abuse (Code section 717B.2), animal neglect punishable as a serious misdemeanor or aggravated misdemeanor (Code section 717B.3), animal torture pursuant to the bill, injury to or interference with a police service dog (Code section 717B.9), bestiality (Code section 717C.1), or an act involving a prohibited animal contest (Code section 717D.2) is guilty of a class “C” felony. A class “C” felony is punishable by confinement for no more than 10 years and a fine of at least $1,370 but not more than $13,660.