HB511 Alabama 2014 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Allen TreadawayRepresentative
Republican
Co-Sponsor: Allen Farley
Session: Regular Session 2014
Title: Police animals, trained or handled by Class One Railroad Officer or special agent, included in protection laws, Sec. 13A-11-260 am'd.
Summary: HB511 adds Class One Railroad Officer canine units to the police animal protections and defines key terms to support those protections.
What This Bill Does
It amends the police animal protections (Section 13A-11-260) to cover animals trained or handled by Class One Railroad Officers or special agents in canine units. It provides formal definitions for terms like containment area, handler, harass, physical harm, police animal, search and rescue animal, and serious physical harm. It notes that, while the change could involve local funds, the bill is exempt from local-funding vote requirements because it creates or modifies a crime, and it becomes effective immediately after the Governor signs it.

Who It Affects
Class One Railroad Officers and special agents with canine units receive expanded legal protection for their trained police/SAR animals.
Local governments and taxpayers in Alabama may be affected by potential local funding considerations, though the bill is exempt from the usual local-funding approval requirements.

Key Provisions
Expands protection to include animals trained or handled by Class One Railroad Officers or special agents in canine units under police animal protection laws.
Introduces defined terms in the statute: Containment Area, Handler, Harass, Physical Harm, Police Animal, Search and Rescue Animal, and Serious Physical Harm.
States that the bill may involve new or increased local funds but is exempt from Amendment 621 voting requirements because it defines a new crime or amends an existing crime.
Effective date: immediately following passage and the Governor's approval.

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