HB204 Alabama 2014 Session

Under existing law, it is a crime to harass, interfere, or attempt to interfere with the duties of a police animal or a search and rescue animal

It is also a crime to assault, injure, or cause the death of a police animal or search and rescue animal

This bill would prohibit a person from interfering with, or permitting a dog to interfere with, the use of a service animal by obstructing, intimidating, or otherwise jeopardizing the safety of the service animal or its user and would provide criminal penalties for violations

This bill would prohibit a person or the owner of a service animal from injuring or killing, or allowing a dog to injure or kill, a service animal and would provide criminal penalties for violations

This bill would also provide that a person who commits a crime against a service animal must make full restitution for all damages that arise out of the offense

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 service animals; to prohibit the interference with a service animal under certain conditions; to prohibit the injury or intentional killing of a service animal under certain conditions; to provide criminal penalties; to require restitution; 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.