HB74 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jim Barton

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Cockfighting, penalties increased, presence at cockfights, penalties, confiscation procedures, terms defined, reporting procedures, Secs. 13A-12-4.1, 13A-12-4.2 added; Sec. 13A-12-4 am'd.

Summary

HB74 would tighten Alabama's cockfighting laws by increasing penalties, adding a cock keepers registration requirement, and establishing strict seizure, forfeiture, and destruction procedures for fighting cocks.

What This Bill Does

It creates new penalties: first convictions for cockfighting-related acts become Class A misdemeanors, with subsequent convictions as Class C felonies, and it sets a separate Class A misdemeanor for being knowingly present at cockfighting preparations or exhibitions. It requires people who regularly keep cocks to register the location of their birds with the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries for disease control. It adds confiscation and forfeiture rules, including forfeiture of profits and property tied to cockfighting, and it establishes detailed seizure reporting, disease testing, condemnation procedures, and rules for destruction of cocks, with costs charged to the owner. It also defines key terms (cock, cockfighting, train) and sets an effective date for the act.

Who It Affects

• People who sell, train, own, manage, finance, promote, or operate facilities for cockfighting, or who attend, wager on, or otherwise participate in cockfighting activities (including spectators and organizers) who would face higher penalties and potential forfeitures.
• Individuals who regularly keep cocks must register their birds' locations with the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, and property owners involved with cockfighting may incur costs and face forfeiture penalties related to seizures.

Key Provisions

• First-conviction acts related to cockfighting become a Class A misdemeanor; second or subsequent convictions become a Class C felony.
• A separate Class A misdemeanor is created for knowingly being present at cockfighting preparations or exhibitions as a spectator.
• Anyone who regularly keeps cocks must register the location of the birds with the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries for disease control.
• Confiscation and forfeiture provisions allow forfeiture of profits and property related to cockfighting, plus forfeiture of interests in property used in connection with cockfighting.
• Penalties include fines of $10,000 for a Class A misdemeanor and $20,000 for a Class C felony.
• Seizure procedures require law enforcement to report seizures to the state veterinarian, allow disease testing before destruction, and pursue condemnation within three business days; destruction may be ordered by a veterinarian for diseased, injured, or otherwise unuseful animals, with costs charged to the owner.
• Definitions for key terms (COCK, COCKFIGHTING, TRAIN) are provided, and the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage.
• The bill clarifies procedures for hearings and ownership considerations if a cock was seized, including outcomes if the owner is acquitted or if the cock was not used in cockfighting.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Crimes and Offenses