AB733: Bill Text

LRB-4215/1

JEO&RPN:kmg:km

1997 - 1998 LEGISLATURE

1997 Assembly BILL 733

January 27, 1998 - Introduced by Representatives Gronemus, Ott, Porter, Baumgart, Ainsworth, Sykora, Musser, Urban, Brandemuehl, Ward and Gunderson, cosponsored by Senators Drzewiecki and A. Lasee. Referred to Committee on Criminal Justice and Corrections.

AB733,1,10 An Act to renumber 895.57 (1) (a), 943.75 (1) (a) and 973.075 (1) (b) 3.; to renumber and amend 303.065 (1), 973.075 (1) (b) (intro.), 973.075 (1) (b) 1. and 973.075 (1) (b) 2.; to amend 29.06 (1) (d), 51.20 (1) (ar) (intro.), 51.20 (13) (g) 2m., 51.37 (8) (a), 51.37 (8) (b), 302.045 (3), 302.11 (1), 302.11 (1i), 302.45 (1), 304.06 (1) (b), 304.071 (2), 895.57 (title), 895.57 (2), 938.183 (3), 943.75 (2), 971.11 (6), 973.075 (5) (intro.) and 978.07 (1) (c) 2.; and to create 302.11 (1t), 303.065 (1) (c), 304.02 (6), 895.57 (1) (ag), 895.57 (4), 943.75 (1) (ad), 943.75 (2m) (b), 973.075 (1) (b) 1m. f. and 973.075 (1) (bm) of the statutes; relating to: the unauthorized release of animals, immunity from liability, affecting parole eligibility and providing a penalty.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill makes the following changes in civil and criminal laws relating to the unauthorized release of animals.

Criminal law changes

Current law prohibits a person from intentionally releasing an animal that is lawfully confined for certain purposes (such as scientific research, farming, companionship or protection of persons or property) if the owner or custodian of the animal does not consent to the release of the animal. The penalty for violating this prohibition depends on whether the person has violated the prohibition before. The penalty for the first violation is a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment for not more than 30 days or both. The penalty for the 2nd violation is a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than 9 months or both. The penalty for a 3rd or subsequent violation is a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than 2 years or both.

Current law also provides for release on parole of persons sentenced to imprisonment in the state prison system. Generally, a person serving a prison sentence has 3 possible ways of being released on parole: discretionary parole granted by the parole commission (for which a person is usually eligible after serving 25% of the sentence or 6 months, whichever is greater); mandatory release on parole (usually granted automatically after the person serves two-thirds of the sentence); or special action parole release by the secretary of corrections (a program designed to relieve prison crowding).

Finally, current law provides for the forfeiture to the state of certain property connected to criminal activity. Specifically, all of the following property is subject to forfeiture under current law: 1) any property that is directly or indirectly derived from or gained through the commission of any crime; 2) a vehicle used to transport any property or weapon that is used, that will be used or that is received in the commission of a felony; 3) a vehicle used in the commission of certain specified crimes, such as prostitution or impersonating a police officer; 4) certain equipment, such as scuba gear, that is used in the commission of a crime relating to a submerged cultural resource; and 5) tank vessels that violate certain environmental protection requirements for tank vessels.

This bill provides for a minimum mandatory prison sentence and increases the maximum penalty for violating the prohibition against intentionally releasing an animal without the consent of the owner or custodian of the animal. Under the bill, a person who violates this prohibition may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 20 years or both. The bill also provides that a person convicted of violating the prohibition may not be placed on probation and must be sentenced to at least 2 years in prison for a first violation, at least 5 years in prison for a 2nd violation and at least 8 years in prison for a 3rd or subsequent violation. In addition, the person is not eligible for parole and thus must serve the entire length of the prison sentence imposed. Finally, the bill provides for the forfeiture of any vehicle that is used, or of any other property that is used or that will be used, to violate the prohibition against intentionally releasing an animal without the consent of the owner or custodian of the animal.

Civil law changes

Under current law, a person who intentionally releases an animal that is lawfully confined is liable to the owner or custodian of the animal for damages, including the costs of restoring the animal to confinement. This bill adds punitive damages, attorney fees and interest on the damages from the date of the release to the damages a person is liable for if he or she intentionally releases an animal that is lawfully confined. The bill also provides the owner or custodian of a confined animal with immunity from civil liability for any damages caused by any security device that is installed to protect a confined animal or the premises containing a confined animal. Currently, a person is liable for any damages caused by any security device that is installed to protect a confined animal or the premises containing a confined animal if the device is installed negligently or operated in a negligent manner.

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:

AB733, s. 1 Section 1. 29.06 (1) (d) of the statutes, as affected by 1997 Wisconsin Act .... (Assembly Bill 378), is amended to read:

AB733,3,4 29.06 (1) (d) The provisions of s. 973.075 (1) (b) 1. to 3. 2m. and (5) apply to vehicles other than motor vehicles under this subsection.

AB733, s. 2 Section 2. 51.20 (1) (ar) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB733,4,4 51.20 (1) (ar) (intro.) If the individual is an inmate of a state prison, the petition may allege that the inmate is mentally ill, is a proper subject for treatment and is in need of treatment. The petition shall allege that appropriate less restrictive forms of treatment have been attempted with the individual and have been unsuccessful and it shall include a description of the less restrictive forms of treatment that were attempted. The petition shall also allege that the individual has been fully informed about his or her treatment needs, the mental health services available to him or her and his or her rights under this chapter and that the individual has had an opportunity to discuss his or her needs, the services available to him or her and his or her rights with a licensed physician or a licensed psychologist. The petition shall include the inmate's sentence and his or her expected date of release as determined under s. 302.11 or, if the inmate is not entitled to release under s. 302.11, the expiration date of the inmate's sentence. The petition shall have attached to it a signed statement by a licensed physician or a licensed psychologist of a state prison and a signed statement by a licensed physician or a licensed psychologist of a state treatment facility attesting either of the following:

AB733, s. 3 Section 3. 51.20 (13) (g) 2m. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB733,4,9 51.20 (13) (g) 2m. In addition to the provisions under subds. 1., 2. and 2g., no commitment ordered under par. (a) 4. or 4m. may continue beyond the inmate's date of release as determined under s. 302.11 or, if the inmate is not entitled to release under s. 302.11, beyond the expiration date of the inmate's sentence.

AB733, s. 4 Section 4. 51.37 (8) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB733,4,21 51.37 (8) (a) Rights to reexamination under s. 51.20 (16) apply to a prisoner or inmate who is found to be mentally ill or drug dependent except that the petition shall be made to the court that made the finding or, if the prisoner or inmate is detained by transfer, to the circuit court of the county in which he or she is detained. If upon rehearing it is found that the standards for recommitment under s. 51.20 (13) (g) no longer apply to the prisoner or inmate or that he or she is not in need of psychiatric or psychological treatment, the prisoner or inmate shall be returned to the prison or county jail or house of correction unless it is past his or her release date as determined under s. 302.11 or, if the prisoner or inmate is not entitled to release under s. 302.11, the expiration date of his or her sentence, in which case he or she shall be discharged.

AB733, s. 5 Section 5. 51.37 (8) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB733,5,12 51.37 (8) (b) If the condition of any prisoner or inmate committed or transferred under this section requires psychiatric or psychological treatment after his or her date of release as determined under s. 302.11 or, if the prisoner or inmate is not entitled to release under s. 302.11, the expiration date of his or her sentence, the director of the state treatment facility shall, within a reasonable time before the release date of the prisoner or inmate, make a written application to the court which committed the prisoner or inmate under sub. (5) (a). Thereupon, the proceeding shall be upon application made under s. 51.20, but no physician or psychologist who is connected with a state prison, Winnebago or Mendota mental health institute or any county jail or house of correction may be appointed as an examiner. If the court does not commit the prisoner or inmate, it may dismiss the application and order the prisoner or inmate returned to the institution from which he or she was transferred until the release date of the prisoner or inmate. If the court commits the prisoner or inmate for the period commencing upon his or her release date, the commitment shall be to the care and custody of the county department under s. 51.42 or 51.437.

AB733, s. 6 Section 6. 302.045 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB733,5,20 302.045 (3) Parole eligibility. Except as provided in sub. (4), if the department determines that an inmate has successfully completed the challenge incarceration program, the parole commission shall parole the inmate under s. 304.06, regardless of the time the inmate has served, unless the inmate is serving a sentence imposed under s. 943.75 (2m) (b). When the parole commission grants parole under this subsection, it must require the parolee to participate in an intensive supervision program for drug abusers as a condition of parole.

AB733, s. 7 Section 7. 302.11 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB733,6,2 302.11 (1) The warden or superintendent shall keep a record of the conduct of each inmate, specifying each infraction of the rules. Except as provided in subs. (1g), (1m), (1t), (7) and (10), each inmate is entitled to mandatory release on parole by the department. The mandatory release date is established at two-thirds of the sentence. Any calculations under this subsection or sub. (2) (b) resulting in fractions of a day shall be rounded in the inmate's favor to a whole day.

AB733, s. 8 Section 8. 302.11 (1i) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB733,6,7 302.11 (1i) An Except as provided in sub. (1t), an inmate serving a sentence to the intensive sanctions program is entitled to mandatory release. The mandatory release date under sub. (1) is established at two-thirds of the sentence under s. 973.032 (3) (a).

AB733, s. 9 Section 9. 302.11 (1t) of the statutes is created to read:

AB733,6,10 302.11 (1t) An inmate serving a sentence imposed under s. 943.75 (2m) (b) is not entitled to mandatory release.

AB733, s. 10 Section 10. 302.45 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB733,6,21 302.45 (1) The department and any county or group of counties may contract for the cooperative establishment and use of state-local shared correctional facilities. Inmates sentenced to the Wisconsin state prisons, a county jail, a county reforestation camp or a county house of correction may be transferred to a shared facility by the department, sheriff or superintendent, respectively, under the agreement covering use of the facility. Any inmate confined in a state-local shared correctional facility shall be deemed to be serving time in the penal institution to which he or she was sentenced and shall be eligible to earn good time credit against his or her sentence as provided under ss. s. 302.11, if applicable, and ss. 302.12;, 302.43;, 303.07 and 303.19 for that institution.

AB733, s. 11 Section 11. 303.065 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 303.065 (1) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB733,6,25 303.065 (1) (intro.) The department may grant work release privileges to any person incarcerated within the state prisons, except that no as follows:

AB733,7,3 (a) No person serving a life sentence may be considered for work release until he or she has reached parole eligibility under s. 304.06 (1) (b) or 973.014 (1) (a) or (b), whichever is applicable, and no.

AB733,7,5 (b) No person serving a life sentence under s. 939.62 (2m) or 973.014 (1) (c) may be considered for work release.

AB733, s. 12 Section 12. 303.065 (1) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

AB733,7,8 303.065 (1) (c) No person serving a sentence imposed under s. 943.75 (2m) (b) may be considered for work release.

AB733, s. 13 Section 13. 304.02 (6) of the statutes is created to read:

AB733,7,12 304.02 (6) Notwithstanding subs. (1) to (3), a prisoner who is serving a sentence imposed under s. 943.75 (2m) (b) is not eligible for release to parole supervision under this section.

AB733, s. 14 Section 14. 304.06 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB733,8,3 304.06 (1) (b) Except as provided in sub. (1m) or s. 302.045 (3), 943.75 (2m) (b), 961.49 (2) or 973.0135, the parole commission may parole an inmate of the Wisconsin state prisons or any felon or any person serving at least one year or more in a county house of correction or a county reforestation camp organized under s. 303.07, when he or she has served 25% of the sentence imposed for the offense, or 6 months, whichever is greater. Except as provided in s. 939.62 (2m) or 973.014, the parole commission may parole an inmate serving a life term when he or she has served 20 years, as modified by the formula under s. 302.11 (1) and subject to extension using the formulas under s. 302.11 (2). The person serving the life term shall be given credit for time served prior to sentencing under s. 973.155, including good time under s. 973.155 (4). The secretary may grant special action parole releases under s. 304.02. The department or the parole commission shall not provide any convicted offender or other person sentenced to the department's custody any parole eligibility or evaluation until the person has been confined at least 60 days following sentencing.

AB733, s. 15 Section 15. 304.071 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB733,8,7 304.071 (2) If a prisoner is not eligible for parole under s. 939.62 (2m), 943.75 (2m) (b), 961.49 (2), 973.014 (1) (c) or 973.032 (5), he or she is not eligible for parole under this section.