Bill Text: VA SB369 | 2024 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Fowl or companion animals; maiming, killing, or poisoning, penalty.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed) 2024-03-08 - Left in Courts of Justice [SB369 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-SB369-Comm_Sub.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §18.2-144 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§18.2-144. Maiming, killing, or poisoning livestock, companion animals, or fowl; penalties.
Except as otherwise provided for by law, if any person
maliciously shoot shoots, stab stabs, wound
or wounds, or otherwise cause causes bodily injury to, or
administer administers poison to or expose exposes
poison with intent that it be taken by, any horse, mule, pony, cattle, swine,
or other livestock of another, or any companion animal of another, with
intent to maim, disfigure, disable, or kill the same, or if he do
does any of the foregoing acts to any such livestock or companion
animal of his own with intent to defraud any insurer thereof, he shall be
is guilty of a Class 5 felony. If any person do does any of
the foregoing acts to any fowl or with any of the aforesaid intents
(i) to any companion animal with any of the aforesaid intents
unlawfully but not maliciously or (ii) to any fowl, he shall be
is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor, except that any second or subsequent
offense shall be a Class 6 felony if the current offense or any previous
offense resulted in the death of an animal or the euthanasia of an animal based
on the recommendation of a licensed veterinarian upon determination that such
euthanasia was necessary due to the condition of the animal, and such condition
was a direct result of a violation of this section.
2. That the provisions of this act may result in a net increase in periods of imprisonment or commitment. Pursuant to §30-19.1:4, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of imprisonment in state adult correctional facilities; therefore, Chapter 1 of the Acts of Assembly of 2023, Special Session I, requires the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission to assign a minimum fiscal impact of $50,000. Pursuant to §30-19.1:4, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of commitment to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.
