H.
B.
4342
(By Delegates Yeager, Adkins, Nicol,
Facemyer, Henderson, Oliverio and Smith)
[Introduced February 3, 1994; referred to the
Committee on Political Subdivisions.]
A BILL to amend article twenty, chapter nineteen of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated section twenty-four, relating to interference or injury to animals used by law-enforcement officials and the penalties attached.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That article twenty, chapter nineteen of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section twenty-four, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 20. DOGS AND CATS.
§
19-20-24. Interference or injury to animals used by
law
-
enforcement officials; penalties.
Any person who, with the intent to inflict such injury or death, personally causes the death, destruction, or serious physical injury including bone fracture, loss or impairment of function of any bodily member, wounds requiring extensive suturing, or serious crippling, of any dog, horse or other animal used by law-enforcement officials is guilty of a felony, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars and imprisoned in the penitentiary not less than one year.
Any person who willfully teases, taunts, torments, strikes, kicks, interferes, or meddles with any dog, horse or other animal used by law-enforcement officials is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned in the county jail not less than thirty days nor more than six months, or both fined and imprisoned.
In any case in which the person is convicted of a violation of this section, the person shall be ordered to make restitution to the law-enforcement agency owning the animal for any veterinary bills, replacement costs of the animal if it is disabled or killed, and the salary of any peace officer for the period of time his or her services are lost to the agency as a result of the animal being disabled or killed in addition to any fines or imprisonment imposed.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to protect dogs, horses or any other animals used by law-enforcement agencies and to provide strict penalties for a violation of this section.
POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
On page one, section twenty-four, line twenty-three, following the word "the", by inserting the word "unlawful".
And,
On page two, section twenty-four, line five, following the word "willfully", by inserting the words "and unlawfully".