May 21, 2019, Introduced by Reps. Gay-Dagnogo, Hammoud, Garza, Cynthia Johnson, Pagan, Brenda Carter, LaGrand, Tate, Brixie, Sabo, Ellison and Haadsma and referred to the Committee on Agriculture.
A bill to amend 1931 PA 328, entitled
"The Michigan penal code,"
by amending section 50 (MCL 750.50), as amended by 2018 PA 452.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 50. (1) As used in this section and section 50b:
(a) "Adequate care" means the provision of sufficient food,
water, shelter, sanitary conditions, exercise, and veterinary
medical attention in order to maintain an animal in a state of good
health.
(b) "Animal" means a vertebrate other than a human being.
(c) "Animal protection shelter" means a facility operated by a
person, humane society, society for the prevention of cruelty to
animals, or any other nonprofit organization, for the care of
homeless animals.
(d) "Animal control shelter" means a facility operated by a
county, city, village, or township to impound and care for animals
found in streets or otherwise at large contrary to an ordinance of
the county, city, village, or township or state law.
(e) "Breeder" means a person that breeds animals other than
livestock or dogs for remuneration, or that is a large-scale dog
breeding kennel as that term is defined in section 1 of 1969 PA
287, MCL 287.331.
(f) "Devocalization" means that term as defined in section
18830 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.18830.
(g) (f)
"Licensed veterinarian"
means a person licensed or
otherwise authorized to practice veterinary medicine under article
15 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.16101 to
333.18838.
(h) (g)
"Livestock" means that
term as defined in section 5 of
the animal industry act, 1988 PA 466, MCL 287.705.
(i) (h)
"Person" means an
individual, partnership, limited
liability company, corporation, association, governmental entity,
or other legal entity.
(j) (i)
"Pet shop" means that
term as defined in section 1 of
1969 PA 287, MCL 287.331.
(k) (j)
"Neglect" means to fail
to sufficiently and properly
care for an animal to the extent that the animal's health is
jeopardized.
(l) (k)
"Sanitary conditions"
means space free from health
hazards including excessive animal waste, overcrowding of animals,
or other conditions that endanger the animal's health. This
definition does not include any condition resulting from a
customary and reasonable practice pursuant to farming or animal
husbandry.
(m) (l) "Shelter"
means adequate protection from the elements
and weather conditions suitable for the age, species, and physical
condition of the animal so as to maintain the animal in a state of
good health. Shelter, for livestock, includes structures or natural
features such as trees or topography. Shelter, for a dog, includes
1 or more of the following:
(i) The residence of the dog's owner or other individual.
(ii) A doghouse that is an enclosed structure with a roof and
of appropriate dimensions for the breed and size of the dog. The
doghouse must have dry bedding when the outdoor temperature is or
is predicted to drop below freezing.
(iii) A structure, including a garage, barn, or shed, that is
sufficiently insulated and ventilated to protect the dog from
exposure to extreme temperatures or, if not sufficiently insulated
and ventilated, contains a doghouse as provided under subparagraph
(ii) that is accessible to the dog.
(n) (m)
"State of good health"
means freedom from disease and
illness, and in a condition of proper body weight and temperature
for the age and species of the animal, unless the animal is
undergoing appropriate treatment.
(o) (n)
"Tethering" means the
restraint and confinement of a
dog by use of a chain, rope, or similar device.
(p) "Therapeutic purpose" means that term as defined in
section 18830 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL
333.18830.
(q) (o)
"Water" means potable
water that is suitable for the
age and species of animal and that is made regularly available
unless otherwise directed by a licensed veterinarian.
(2) An owner, possessor, breeder, operator of a pet shop, or
person having the charge or custody of an animal shall not do any
of the following:
(a) Fail to provide an animal with adequate care.
(b) Cruelly drive, work, or beat an animal, or cause an animal
to be cruelly driven, worked, or beaten.
(c) Carry or cause to be carried in or upon a vehicle or
otherwise any live animal having the feet or legs tied together,
other than an animal being transported for medical care or a horse
whose feet are hobbled to protect the horse during transport, or in
any other cruel and inhumane manner.
(d) Carry or cause to be carried a live animal in or upon a
vehicle or otherwise without providing a secure space, rack, car,
crate, or cage in which livestock may stand and in which all other
animals may stand, turn around, and lie down during transportation,
or while awaiting slaughter. As used in this subdivision, for
purposes of transportation of sled dogs, "stand" means sufficient
vertical distance to allow the animal to stand without its
shoulders touching the top of the crate or transportation vehicle.
(e) Abandon an animal or cause an animal to be abandoned, in
any place, without making provisions for the animal's adequate
care, unless premises are vacated for the protection of human life
or the prevention of injury to a human. An animal that is lost by
an owner or custodian while traveling, walking, hiking, or hunting
is not abandoned under this section when the owner or custodian has
made a reasonable effort to locate the animal.
(f) Negligently allow any animal, including one who is aged,
diseased, maimed, hopelessly sick, disabled, or nonambulatory to
suffer unnecessary neglect, torture, or pain.
(g) Tether a dog unless the tether is at least 3 times the
length of the dog as measured from the tip of its nose to the base
of its tail and is attached to a harness or nonchoke collar
designed for tethering. This subdivision does not apply if the
tethering of the dog occurs while the dog is being groomed,
trained, transported, or used in a hunt or event where a shorter
tether is necessary for the safety and well-being of the dog and
others.
(h) Perform a devocalization procedure on an animal or
knowingly permit a devocalization procedure to be performed on an
animal without a determination by a licensed veterinarian that the
procedure is for a therapeutic purpose as provided in section 18830
of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.18830.
(3) If an animal is impounded and is being held by an animal
control shelter or its designee or an animal protection shelter or
its designee or a licensed veterinarian pending the outcome of a
criminal action charging a violation of this section or section
50b, before final disposition of the criminal charge, the
prosecuting attorney may file a civil action in the court that has
jurisdiction of the criminal action, requesting that the court
issue an order forfeiting the animal to the animal control shelter
or animal protection shelter or to a licensed veterinarian before
final disposition of the criminal charge. The prosecuting attorney
shall serve a true copy of the summons and complaint upon the
defendant and upon a person with a known ownership interest or
known security interest in the animal or a person who has filed a
lien with the secretary of state on the animal. The forfeiture of
an animal under this section encumbered by a security interest is
subject to the interest of the holder of the security interest if
he or she did not have prior knowledge of or did not consent to the
commission of the crime. Upon the filing of the civil action, the
court shall set a hearing on the complaint. The hearing must be
conducted within 14 days of the filing of the civil action, or as
soon as practicable. The hearing must be before a judge without a
jury. At the hearing, the prosecuting attorney has the burden of
establishing by a preponderance of the evidence that a violation of
this section or section 50b occurred. If the court finds that the
prosecuting attorney has met this burden, the court shall order
immediate forfeiture of the animal to the animal control shelter or
animal protection shelter or the licensed veterinarian unless the
defendant, within 72 hours of the hearing, submits to the court
clerk cash or other form of security in an amount determined by the
court to be sufficient to repay all reasonable costs incurred, and
anticipated to be incurred, by the animal control shelter or animal
protection shelter or the licensed veterinarian in caring for the
animal from the date of initial impoundment to the date of trial.
If cash or other security has been submitted, and the trial in the
action is continued at a later date, any order of continuance must
require the defendant to submit additional cash or security in an
amount determined by the court to be sufficient to repay all
additional reasonable costs anticipated to be incurred by the
animal control shelter or animal protection shelter or the licensed
veterinarian in caring for the animal until the new date of trial.
If the defendant submits cash or other security to the court under
this subsection the court may enter an order authorizing the use of
that cash or other security before final disposition of the
criminal charges to pay the reasonable costs incurred by the animal
control shelter or animal protection shelter or the licensed
veterinarian in caring for the animal from the date of impoundment
to the date of final disposition of the criminal charges. The
testimony of a person at a hearing held under this subsection is
not admissible against him or her in any criminal proceeding except
in a criminal prosecution for perjury. The testimony of a person at
a hearing held under this subsection does not waive the person's
constitutional right against self-incrimination. An animal seized
under this section or section 50b is not subject to any other civil
action pending the final judgment of the forfeiture action under
this subsection.
(4) A person who violates subsection (2) is guilty of a crime
as follows:
(a) Except as otherwise provided in subdivisions (c) to (f),
if the violation involved 1 animal, the person is guilty of a
misdemeanor punishable by 1 or more of the following and may be
ordered to pay the costs of prosecution:
(i) Imprisonment for not more than 93 days.
(ii) A fine of not more than $1,000.00.
(iii) Community service for not more than 200 hours.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in subdivisions (c) to (f),
if the violation involved 2 or 3 animals or the death of any
animal, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by 1 or
more of the following and may be ordered to pay the costs of
prosecution:
(i) Imprisonment for not more than 1 year.
(ii) A fine of not more than $2,000.00.
(iii) Community service for not more than 300 hours.
(c) If the violation involved 4 or more animals but fewer than
10 animals or the person had 1 prior conviction under subsection
(2), the person is guilty of a felony punishable by 1 or more of
the following and may be ordered to pay the costs of prosecution:
(i) Imprisonment for not more than 2 years.
(ii) A fine of not more than $2,000.00.
(iii) Community service for not more than 300 hours.
(d) If the violation involved 10 or more animals but fewer
than 25 animals or the person had 2 prior convictions for violating
subsection (2), the person is guilty of a felony punishable by 1 or
more of the following and may be ordered to pay the costs of
prosecution:
(i) Imprisonment for not more than 4 years.
(ii) A fine of not more than $5,000.00.
(iii) Community service for not more than 500 hours.
(e) If the violation involved 25 or more animals or the person
has had 3 or more prior convictions for violating subsection (2),
the person is guilty of a felony punishable by 1 or more of the
following and may be ordered to pay the costs of prosecution:
(i) Imprisonment for not more than 7 years.
(ii) A fine of not more than $10,000.00.
(iii) Community service for not more than 500 hours.
(f) If the person is a breeder, or if the person is an
operator of a pet shop and he or she has had 5 or more prior
convictions for violating 1969 PA 287, MCL 287.331 to 287.340, the
person is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not
more than 2 years or a fine of not more than $5,000.00, or both.
(5) The court may order a person convicted of violating
subsection (2) to be evaluated to determine the need for
psychiatric or psychological counseling and, if determined
appropriate by the court, to receive psychiatric or psychological
counseling. The evaluation and counseling must be at the
defendant's own expense.
(6) This section does not prohibit a person from being charged
with, convicted of, or punished for any other violation of law
arising out of the same transaction as the violation of this
section.
(7) The court may order a term of imprisonment imposed for a
violation of this section to be served consecutively to a term of
imprisonment imposed for any other crime including any other
violation of law arising out of the same transaction as the
violation of this section.
(8) As a part of the sentence for a violation of subsection
(2), the court may order the defendant to pay the costs of the
care, housing, and veterinary medical care for the animal, as
applicable. If the court does not order a defendant to pay all of
the applicable costs listed in this subsection, or orders only
partial payment of these costs, the court shall state on the record
the reason for that action.
(9) As a part of the sentence for a violation of subsection
(2), the court may, as a condition of probation, order the
defendant not to own or possess an animal for a period of time not
to exceed the period of probation. If a person is convicted of a
second or subsequent violation of subsection (2), the court may
order the defendant not to own or possess an animal for any period
of time, including permanent relinquishment of animal ownership.
(10) A person who owns or possesses an animal in violation of
an order issued under subsection (9) is subject to revocation of
probation if the order is issued as a condition of probation. A
person who owns or possesses an animal in violation of an order
issued under subsection (9) is also subject to the civil and
criminal contempt power of the court, and if found guilty of
criminal contempt, may be punished by imprisonment for not more
than 90 days or a fine of not more than $500.00, or both.
(11) As part of the sentence imposed under subsection (4)(e),
the court may place the defendant on probation for any term of
years, but not less than 5 years.
(12) This section does not prohibit the lawful killing or
other use of an animal, including the following:
(a) Fishing.
(b) Hunting, trapping, or wildlife control regulated under the
natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451,
MCL 324.101 to 324.90106.
(c) Horse racing.
(d) The operation of a zoological park or aquarium.
(e) Pest or rodent control regulated under part 83 of the
natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451,
MCL 324.8301 to 324.8336.
(f) Farming or a generally accepted animal husbandry or
farming practice involving livestock.
(g) Scientific research under 1969 PA 224, MCL 287.381 to
287.395.
(h) Scientific research or the lawful killing of an animal
under sections 2226, 2671, 2676, and 7333 of the public health
code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.2226, 333.2671, 333.2676, and 333.7333.
(i) The lawful killing or use of an animal under the animal
industry act, 1988 PA 466, MCL 287.701 to 287.746.
(13) This section does not apply to a veterinarian or a
veterinary technician lawfully engaging in the practice of
veterinary medicine under part 188 of the public health code, 1978
PA 368, MCL 333.18801 to 333.18838.
Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days
after the date it is enacted into law.
Enacting section 2. This amendatory act does not take effect
unless Senate Bill No.____ or House Bill No. 4593 (request no.
00549'19) of the 100th Legislature is enacted into law.