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Senate File 85 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1providing for the protection of rabbits from
2mistreatment, and making penalties applicable.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 717.1, subsection 4, Code 2021, is
2amended to read as follows:
34. a. “Livestock” means an animal belonging to the bovine,
4caprine, equine, ovine, or porcine species,; ostriches, rheas,
5or emus; rabbits; farm deer as defined in section 170.1; or
6poultry.
7b. “Livestock” does not include game or other wild animals
8owned by the state as provided in chapter 481A.
9EXPLANATION
10The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
11the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
12This bill provides that rabbits are considered livestock
13subject to certain protections from mistreatment, in the same
14manner as cattle, goats, horses, swine, ratites, farm deer, or
15poultry. The bill provides that such animals do not include
16game or other wild animals managed by the department of natural
17resources such as cottontails (Code section 481A.1). The
18offenses prohibiting mistreatment include livestock abuse (Code
19section 717.1A) and livestock neglect (Code section 717.2) and
20associated criminal penalties, including a simple misdemeanor
21punishable by confinement for no more than 30 days and a fine
22of at least $105 but not more than $855; a serious misdemeanor,
23punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine
24of at least $430 but not more than $2,560; and an aggravated
25misdemeanor punishable by confinement for no more than two
26years and a fine of at least $855 but not more than $8,540. In
27addition, livestock subject to mistreatment may be rescued and
28disposed of pursuant to a court order (Code sections 717.2A,
29717.3, and 717.5).
30Generally, offenses involving animal mistreatment involve
31either livestock covered under Code chapter 717 or other
32animals (exempting game or wildlife) covered under Code chapter
33717B. A number of provisions in other Code chapters refer to
34livestock as defined in Code section 717.1, by either expressly
35including or excluding such animals. Those provisions provide
-1-1for financing farming operations (Code chapter 15E), disease
2control (Code section 159.5(13)), the regulation of pet shops
3(Code chapter 162), domestic abuse proceedings (Code chapter
4236), cooperative associations (Code chapter 501A), farm
5tenancies (Code chapter 562), animal contest events (Code
6chapter 717D), and an agricultural theft surcharge (Code
7chapter 911).
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2mistreatment, and making penalties applicable.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 717.1, subsection 4, Code 2021, is
2amended to read as follows:
34. a. “Livestock” means an animal belonging to the bovine,
4caprine, equine, ovine, or porcine species,; ostriches, rheas,
5or emus; rabbits; farm deer as defined in section 170.1; or
6poultry.
7b. “Livestock” does not include game or other wild animals
8owned by the state as provided in chapter 481A.
9EXPLANATION
10The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
11the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
12This bill provides that rabbits are considered livestock
13subject to certain protections from mistreatment, in the same
14manner as cattle, goats, horses, swine, ratites, farm deer, or
15poultry. The bill provides that such animals do not include
16game or other wild animals managed by the department of natural
17resources such as cottontails (Code section 481A.1). The
18offenses prohibiting mistreatment include livestock abuse (Code
19section 717.1A) and livestock neglect (Code section 717.2) and
20associated criminal penalties, including a simple misdemeanor
21punishable by confinement for no more than 30 days and a fine
22of at least $105 but not more than $855; a serious misdemeanor,
23punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine
24of at least $430 but not more than $2,560; and an aggravated
25misdemeanor punishable by confinement for no more than two
26years and a fine of at least $855 but not more than $8,540. In
27addition, livestock subject to mistreatment may be rescued and
28disposed of pursuant to a court order (Code sections 717.2A,
29717.3, and 717.5).
30Generally, offenses involving animal mistreatment involve
31either livestock covered under Code chapter 717 or other
32animals (exempting game or wildlife) covered under Code chapter
33717B. A number of provisions in other Code chapters refer to
34livestock as defined in Code section 717.1, by either expressly
35including or excluding such animals. Those provisions provide
-1-1for financing farming operations (Code chapter 15E), disease
2control (Code section 159.5(13)), the regulation of pet shops
3(Code chapter 162), domestic abuse proceedings (Code chapter
4236), cooperative associations (Code chapter 501A), farm
5tenancies (Code chapter 562), animal contest events (Code
6chapter 717D), and an agricultural theft surcharge (Code
7chapter 911).
-2-da/ns