First Regular Session
              Sixty-eighth General Assembly
                    STATE OF COLORADO
                                                 INTRODUCED
                                                           
                                                           
 LLS NO. 11-0056.01 Richard Sweetman     HOUSE BILL 11-1039
                    HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
 McCann,
 
                   SENATE SPONSORSHIP
 (None),
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 House Committees
 Senate Committees
 
 
 Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                         A BILL FOR AN ACT
       Concerning the classification of certain unsanctioned
            sporting events as cruelty to animals.
       
       
                           Bill Summary
       
            (Note:  This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
       not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted.  If this bill
       passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
       applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
       http://www.leg.state.co.us/billsummaries.)
       
            A person commits cruelty to animals if he or she intentionally, for
       the purpose of entertainment, sport, or contest, drags a bovine by its tail
       or lassos or ropes the legs of an equine.
       
       
       
       Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
            SECTION 1.   18-9-201, Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended
       BY THE ADDITION OF THE FOLLOWING NEW SUBSECTIONS to
       read:
            18-9-201.  Definitions.  As used in sections 18-9-201.5, 18-9-202,
       18-9-202.5, and 18-9-204.5, unless the context otherwise requires:
            (2.2)  "Bovine" means a cow, steer, bull, heifer, ox, or bison.
            (2.6)  "Equine" means a horse, pony, donkey, mule, or hinny.
            SECTION 2.  18-9-202 (1), Colorado Revised Statutes, is
       amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW PARAGRAPH to read:
            18-9-202.  Cruelty to animals - aggravated cruelty to animals
       - neglect of animals - offenses.  (1) (c)  A person commits cruelty to
       animals if he or she intentionally, for the purpose of
       entertainment, sport, or contest:
            (I)  Drags a bovine by its tail; or
            (II)  Lassos or ropes the legs of an equine.
            SECTION 3.  18-9-202 (2) (b) (I), Colorado Revised Statutes, is
       amended to read:
            18-9-202.  Cruelty to animals - aggravated cruelty to animals
       - neglect of animals - offenses.  (2) (b) (I)  A second or subsequent
       conviction under the provisions of paragraph (a) or (c) of subsection (1)
       of this section is a class 6 felony.  A plea of nolo contendere accepted by
       the court shall be considered a conviction for the purposes of this section.
            SECTION 4.  18-1.3-506 (3), Colorado Revised Statutes, is
       amended to read:
            18-1.3-506.  Payment and collection of fines for class 1, 2, or 3
       misdemeanors and class 1 or 2 petty offenses - release from
       incarceration.  (3)  For the purposes of this section, "nonviolent class 1,
       2, or 3 misdemeanor" means a class 1, 2, or 3 misdemeanor that does not
       involve cruelty to an animal, as described in section 18-9-202 (1) (a) or
       (1) (c), or the use or threat of physical force on or to a person in the
       commission of the misdemeanor.
            SECTION 5.  19-2-918.5 (1) and (3), Colorado Revised Statutes,
       are amended to read:
            19-2-918.5.  Sentencing - animal cruelty - anger management
       treatment.  (1)  In addition to any sentence imposed pursuant to this
       section, any juvenile who has been adjudicated a juvenile delinquent for
       the commission of cruelty to animals, as described in section 18-9-202 (1)
       (a) or (1) (c), C.R.S., in which the underlining factual basis of which has
       been found by the court to include the knowing or intentional torture or
       torment of an animal which needlessly injures, mutilates, or kills an
       animal, may be ordered to complete an anger management treatment
       program or any other treatment program deemed appropriate by the court.
            (3)  The disposition for any juvenile who has been adjudicated a
       juvenile delinquent a second or subsequent time, the underlying factual
       basis of which has been found by the court to include an act of cruelty to
       animals, as described in section 18-9-202 (1) (a) or (1) (c), C.R.S., shall
       include the completion of an anger management treatment program or any
       other treatment program deemed appropriate by the court.
            SECTION 6.  Effective date - applicability.  This act shall take
       effect upon passage and shall apply to offenses committed on or after said
       date.
            SECTION 7.  Safety clause.  The general assembly hereby finds,
       determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
       preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.