LRB-3040/1
PJH:jld:jf
2011 - 2012 LEGISLATURE
December 1, 2011 - Introduced by Representatives Wynn, Sinicki, Spanbauer,
Berceau, Knilans and
Pasch, cosponsored by Senators Carpenter and T.
Cullen. Referred to Committee on Criminal Justice and Corrections.
AB401,1,2
1An Act to amend 951.18 (1) of the statutes;
relating to: felony mistreatment
2of an animal and providing a penalty.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, with limited exceptions, no person may treat an animal in
a cruel manner. The penalties for a treating an animal in a cruel matter depend upon
the extent of injury to the animal and whether the person acted negligently or
intentionally. Under current law, a person who intentionally treats an animal in a
cruel manner resulting in mutilation, disfigurement, or death to the animal, is guilty
of a Class I felony and may be fined up to $10,000, imprisoned for up to three years
and six months, or both.
Under this bill, a person who intentionally treats an animal in a cruel manner
resulting in great bodily harm, mutilation, disfigurement, or death to the animal is
guilty of a Class I felony. Great bodily harm means bodily injury which creates a
substantial risk of death, or which causes serious permanent disfigurement, or
which causes a permanent or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any
bodily member or organ or other serious bodily injury.
Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime,
the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a
report concerning the proposed penalty and the costs or savings that are likely to
result if the bill is enacted.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB401, s. 1
1Section
1. 951.18 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB401,2,132
951.18
(1) Any person violating s. 951.02, 951.025, 951.03, 951.04, 951.05,
3951.06, 951.07, 951.09, 951.10, 951.11, 951.13, 951.14 or 951.15 is subject to a
4Class C forfeiture. Any person who violates any of these provisions within 3 years
5after a humane officer issues an abatement order under s. 173.11 prohibiting the
6violation of that provision is subject to a Class A forfeiture. Any person who
7intentionally or negligently violates any of those sections is guilty of a Class A
8misdemeanor. Any person who intentionally violates s. 951.02, resulting in the
9mutilation, disfigurement
, great bodily harm to, or death of an animal, is guilty of
10a Class I felony. Any person who intentionally violates s. 951.02 or 951.06, knowing
11that the animal that is the victim is used by a law enforcement agency to perform
12agency functions or duties and causing injury to the animal, is guilty of a Class I
13felony.
