Bill No.: SF0100                     Drafter: MRW

LSO No.:   11LSO-0421                 Effective Date: 3/3/2011

Enrolled Act No.:    SEA0083

Chapter No.:         168

Prime Sponsor:       Senator Geis

Catch Title:         Cruelty to animals.

Subject:   Adds household pet animal cruelty to the cruelty to animals statute and establishes a fund to reimburse the costs of county law enforcement agencies in enforcing animal cruelty provisions.

Summary/Major Elements:

● Provides that a person commits household pet animal cruelty if the animal is kept in a manner that results in chronic or repeated serious harm to the animal or if the animal is confined in conditions which are a public health hazard.

● Provides that household pets include privately owned dog, cat, rabbit, guinea pig, hamster, mouse, gerbil, ferret, bird, fish, reptile, amphibian, invertebrate or any other species of domesticated animal sold for the purpose of being a pet; specifically exempts livestock as defined in W.S. 23-1-102(a)(xvi).  

● Establishes a fund under the control of the attorney general to assist county law enforcement agencies in enforcement of the act.

● Requires the attorney general to draft rules and regulations governing the expenses eligible for reimbursement.

● Provides reimbursement only in instances where the county can demonstrate it has made reasonable efforts to recover the costs from the offender.  The amount reimbursed cannot exceed ninety percent (90%) of the cost associated with any animal cruelty case.   

● The fund is a permanent, nonreversion account within the state auditor’s office. 

Comments:

Report required by the attorney general to the appropriations and agriculture, state and public land and water resources committees.