COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR

H. B. 2263

(By Delegates

Yeager, Rowe, Manuel, Frederick,
Adkins, Henderson and Burke)


(Originating in the House Committee on the Judiciary)

[February 17, 1995]


A BILL to amend article twenty, chapter nineteen of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated section twenty-four, relating to causing death or injury to any trained dog or horse used by law-enforcement officials in the performance of their official duties; criminal penalties; and restitution.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That article twenty, chapter nineteen of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section twenty-four, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 20. DOGS AND CATS.

§19-20-24. Causing death or injury to animals used by law-enforcement officials; criminal penalties.

Any person who, without justification, and with the unlawful intent to inflict serious physical injury or death, causes the death of any trained dog or horse used by law-enforcement officials in the performance of their official duties is guilty of a felony, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars and imprisoned in the penitentiary for a definite term of not more than three years.
Any person who, without justification, willfully and unlawfully causes physical injury to any trained dog or horse used by law-enforcement officials in the performance of their official duties is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars, or confined in the county jail not more than six months, or both.
Any person convicted of a violation of this section shall be ordered to make restitution to the law-enforcement agency owning the animal for any veterinary bills and replacement costs of any disabled or killed animal.