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Introduced Version House Bill 4251 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted

FISCAL NOTEFISCAL NOTEWEST virginia Legislature

2016 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 4251

By Delegates Espinosa and Upson

[Introduced January 25, 2016; Referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary.
]

A BILL to amend and reenact §61-8-19a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to increasing the criminal penalties for participating in an animal fighting venture.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:


That §61-8-19a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:

ARTICLE 8.  CRIMES AGAINST CHASTITY, MORALITY AND DECENCY.

§61-8-19a.  Animal fighting ventures prohibited.


(a) It is unlawful for any person to engage in, be employed at, or sell an admission to any animal fighting venture.

(b) Any person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $100 $1,000 and not more than $1,000 $25,000, or confined in the county jail imprisoned in a state correctional facility not exceeding less than one year, nor more than ten years or both so fined and confined imprisoned and may be divested of ownership and control of such animals, and be liable for all costs for their care and maintenance:  Provided, That if the animal is a wild animal, game animal or fur-bearing animal, as defined in section two, article one, chapter twenty of this code, or wildlife not indigenous to West Virginia, or of a canine, feline, porcine, bovine, or equine species whether wild or domesticated, the person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $1,000 $25,000 and not more than $5,000 $50,000, and imprisoned in a state correctional facility for not less than one five nor more than five fifteen years, or both fined and imprisoned.

 

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to increase the penalties for participating in an animal fighting venture.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.

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