HB485 Alabama 2022 Session

Under current law, an animal control officer or law enforcement officer cannot initiate an investigation of injury to livestock caused by dogs

This bill would authorize animal control officers and law enforcement officers to investigate when a dog is reported to have caused injury to livestock

This bill would make it a Class B misdemeanor for a person who fails to properly restrain a dog that is known to kill livestock and a Class C misdemeanor for a person who does not comply with an investigation by an animal control officer or law enforcement officer

This bill would repeal provisions relating to the liability of a person whose dog harms livestock

This bill would also make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing code language to current style

Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended by Amendment 890, 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. If this bill is not enacted by a 2/3 vote, it will not become effective with regard to a local entity unless approved by the local entity or until, and only as long as, the Legislature appropriates funds or provides for a local source of revenue

Relating to livestock; to amend Sections 3-1-1 and 3-1-5, Code of Alabama 1975; to provide a private cause of action for damages to livestock caused by a dog; to authorize certain officers to initiate an investigation of injury to livestock caused by dogs; and to repeal Sections 3-1-4 and 3-1-6, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to liability of a person whose dog harms livestock; to make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing code language to current style; and in connection therewith to 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, as amended by Amendment 890, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.