SB262 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jimmy Holley

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Motor vehicles, animals, crime to leave an animal in an unattended motor vehicle, immunity to a public safety official who rescues an animal under certain circumstances, Sec. 13A-11-241 am'd.

Summary

SB 262 would ban leaving a domestic animal in an unattended car if it creates an unreasonable risk, while giving immunity to rescuers and public safety officials and updating cruelty laws to cover vehicle-related harm to pets.

What This Bill Does

It prohibits leaving a domestic animal in a motor vehicle unattended in a way that creates an unreasonable risk, with interior temperatures at or below 99 degrees Fahrenheit presumed safe. It grants criminal immunity to private individuals who rescue a domestic animal from an unattended vehicle if specific steps are followed, and it provides civil and criminal immunity to public safety officials who perform such rescues. It amends cruelty-to-animals laws to treat certain vehicle-related neglect as second-degree cruelty and adds rescue-related care requirements for rescued animals.

Who It Affects

• Owners/keepers of domestic animals who might leave pets in vehicles, as they could face new crimes or penalties if the vehicle creates risk to the animal.
• Private individuals who might rescue animals from unattended vehicles and public safety officials who perform rescues, as they gain immunity from criminal or civil liability under specified conditions.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits leaving a domestic animal in a motor vehicle unattended in a manner that creates an unreasonable risk of injury or harm; interior temperatures of 99 F or less are presumed safe.
• Provides criminal immunity to a person who rescues a domestic animal from an unattended motor vehicle if they meet conditions: vehicle is locked or exit is not possible, belief of imminent danger, contact with a public safety official, minimal force used, and staying with the animal until responders arrive.
• Provides civil and criminal immunity to public safety officials who rescue an animal from an unattended motor vehicle and act within the act's guidelines.
• Amends 13A-11-241 to make leaving a domestic animal in a vehicle under certain circumstances a second-degree cruelty to an animal offense, including cases where the animal dies or where the interior temperature exceeds 99 F and the animal shows heat stroke signs.
• Requires rescuers to prevent hypothermia or heat exhaustion of rescued animals and to check an exterior crate or carrier every 30 minutes; if distress is observed, the animal must be taken to a veterinarian.
• Public safety officials must respond to reports by contacting owners where possible and coordinating with experienced personnel or veterinarians to assess the animal's condition.
• States the bill is exempt from certain local expenditure requirements because it creates or amends a crime; becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor 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

Motor Vehicles