as introduced - 82nd Legislature (2001 - 2002) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am
1.1 A bill for an act 1.2 relating to crime prevention; imposing criminal 1.3 penalties for killing or harming animals trained to 1.4 assist persons with disabilities; requiring the 1.5 payment of restitution by these offenders; proposing 1.6 coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 609. 1.7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 1.8 Section 1. [609.5965] [KILLING OR HARMING AN ANIMAL 1.9 TRAINED TO ASSIST PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.] 1.10 Subdivision 1. [CRIME DESCRIBED.] It is a crime for a 1.11 person to intentionally and without justification cause harm or 1.12 death to an animal trained to assist a person with a disability 1.13 while the animal is involved in that purpose or in the custody 1.14 of the disabled person. A person who violates this subdivision 1.15 may be sentenced as provided in subdivisions 2 and 3. 1.16 Subd. 2. [CRIMINAL PENALTY.] (a) If the animal suffers 1.17 death, the person is guilty of a felony and may be sentenced to 1.18 imprisonment for not more than two years or to payment of a fine 1.19 of not more than $4,000, or both. 1.20 (b) If the animal suffers great bodily harm, the person is 1.21 guilty of a felony and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not 1.22 more than a year and a day or to payment of a fine of not more 1.23 than $3,000, or both. 1.24 (c) If the animal suffers substantial bodily harm, the 1.25 person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. 1.26 (d) If the animal suffers demonstrable bodily harm, the 2.1 person is guilty of a misdemeanor. 2.2 Subd. 3. [MANDATORY RESTITUTION.] In addition to any other 2.3 sentence, the court shall order a person convicted of violating 2.4 this section to pay restitution to the person the animal was 2.5 trained to assist. 2.6 Sec. 2. [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 2.7 Section 1 is effective August 1, 2001, and applies to 2.8 crimes committed on or after that date.