Delaware House Bill 204 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)
Status: Introduced on June 18 2015 - 25% progression, died in chamber
Action: 2016-01-19 - Stricken
Text: Latest bill text (Draft #1) [HTML]

This bill revises the procedure for impounding an animal which has allegedly been the subject of cruelty. The bill also creates a civil cause of action for Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to file suit against any person who engaged in cruelty to an animal. There is an express exemption from the ground of abandonment for releasing a cat as part of the Trap, Neuter and Release Program. Upon a finding of cruelty, the defendant is liable to the plaintiff for liquidated damages of $2,500 to cover the plaintiff’s litigation costs, as well as court costs. Also, any person who commits cruelty to an animal is then prohibited from owning or possessing an animal for up to 5 years, except for commercial farms. A second concurrent or subsequent act of cruelty extends the prohibition another 5 years. A third concurrent or subsequent act of cruelty results in a permanent prohibition of owning or possessing an animal, without exception.

An Act To Amend Titles 3 And 11 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Animal Cruelty.

Rep. Sean Lynn [D]	Sen. Karen Peterson [D]	Rep. Andria Bennett [D]	Rep. Stephanie Bolden [D]
Rep. Helene Keeley [D]	Rep. John Kowalko [D]	Rep. Kimberly Williams [D]

Date	Chamber	Action
2016-01-19	House	Stricken
2015-06-23	House	Reported Out of Committee (JUDICIARY) in House with 1 Favorable, 7 On Its Merits, 1 Unfavorable
2015-06-23	House	Amendment HA 1 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
2015-06-18	House	Introduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House

Type	Source
Summary	http://legis.delaware.gov/LIS/lis148.nsf/2bede841c6272c888025698400433a04/a37fb70c6817a2cc85257e03005fb644?OpenDocument
Text	http://legis.delaware.gov/LIS/lis148.nsf/vwLegislation/HB+204/$file/legis.html?open