HB259 Alabama 2013 Session

Under existing law, a person who kills a dog used by a peace officer in the line of duty is guilty of a Class C Felony

This bill would make it a crime to interfere or attempt to interfere with the duties of a police animal, a search and rescue animal, or the handler of a police animal or search and rescue animal

This bill would make it a crime to harass, assault, injure, cause the death, or attempt to harass, assault, injure, or cause the death of a police animal or search and rescue animal

This bill would provide for penalties and restitution of certain expenses relating to the crimes created by this bill

This bill would provide for exclusions and defenses and would repeal existing law

Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose

The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the amendment. However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the amendment

Relating to police animals and search and rescue animals and handlers of these animals; to make it a crime to harass, interfere, or attempt to interfere with the duties of the animal or handler; to make it a crime to assault or injure, to attempt to assault or injure, or to cause or attempt to cause the death of a police animal or search and rescue animal; to provide penalties for violations; to provide for restitution of certain expenses; to provide for exclusions and defenses; to repeal Section 13A-11-15 of the Code of Alabama 1975; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.