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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
working animal; harm; classification
Purpose
Increases the penalty for intentionally or knowingly causing serious harm to a working animal from a class 6 felony to a class 5 felony. Increases the penalty for intentionally or knowingly killing a working animal from a class 6 felony to a class 4 felony.
Background
Statute specifies that a person commits cruelty to animals if a person: 1) recklessly interferes with, kills or harms a working or service animal without either legal privilege or consent of the owner; 2) intentionally or knowingly interferes with, kills or harms a working or service animal without either legal privilege or consent of the owner; 3) intentionally or knowingly allows any dog that is under the person's custody or control to interfere with, kill or cause physical injury to a service animal; 4) recklessly allows any dog that is under the person's custody or control to interfere with, kill or cause physical injury to a service animal 5) intentionally or knowingly obtains or exerts unauthorized control over a service animal with the intent to deprive the service animal handler of the service animal; or 6) intentionally or knowingly harasses a working animal that is in a law enforcement vehicle or trailer without either legal privilege or consent of the owner.
Service animal means an animal that has completed a formal training program, that assists its owner in one or more daily living tasks that are associated with a productive lifestyle and that is trained to not pose a danger to the health and safety of the general public. Working animal means a horse or dog that is used by a law enforcement agency, that is specially trained for law enforcement work and that is under the control of a handler (A.R.S. ยง 13-2910).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Increases the penalty for intentionally or knowingly causing serious harm to a working animal from a class 6 felony to a class 5 felony.
2. Increases the penalty for intentionally or knowingly killing a working animal from a class 6 felony to a class 4 felony.
3. Modifies cruelty to animals criminal classification by making killing or harming a service animal its own offense.
4. Adds injuring a working or service animal to the list of crimes that make a person liable for certain costs, including training and replacement costs of a new animal.
5. Makes conforming changes.
6. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 27, 2025
ZD/AW/ci