Report Title:
Crimes; Dog Fighting
Description:
Repeals existing prohibition against dog fighting and enacts more comprehensive prohibition of dog fighting and related conduct. Provides enhanced penalties. (HB2476 HD1)
|
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2476 |
|
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008 |
H.D. 1 |
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Chapter 711, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§711- Dog fighting. (1) A person commits the offense of dog fighting if the person causes, sponsors, arranges, holds, or encourages a fight between dogs for the purpose of monetary gain or entertainment, including:
(a) Knowingly wagering on a dog fight;
(b) Owning, training, transporting, possessing, breeding, selling, transferring, or equipping a dog with the intent that the dog will be engaged in a fight;
(c) Knowingly allowing a dog fight to occur on any property owned or controlled by the person;
(d) Knowingly allowing any dog intended by the person to be used for a fight to be kept, boarded, housed, trained on, or transported in, any property owned or controlled by the person;
(e) Knowingly using any means of communication for the promotion of dog fighting; or
(f) Knowingly possessing any dog intended by the person to be used for a fight or any device intended to enhance the animal's fighting ability. As used in this paragraph, "device" means both animate and inanimate objects and includes live animals used as bait animals.
(2) Nothing in this section shall prohibit any of the following:
(a) The use of dogs in the management of livestock by the owner of the livestock, the owner's employees or agents, or other persons in lawful custody thereof;
(b) The use of dogs in hunting wildlife, including game; or
(c) The training of dogs or the use of equipment in the training of dogs for any purpose not prohibited by law.
(3) Dog fighting is a class C felony. Any person committing a second or subsequent offense under this section shall be sentenced to:
(a) An indeterminate term of imprisonment of five years, pursuant to section 706-660; or
(b) Five years probation, with conditions to include a term of imprisonment of no fewer than thirty days without possibility of suspension of sentence.
(4) If there is any conflict between this section and sections 711-1108.5, 711-1109, or any other provision of law, this section shall apply."
SECTION 2. Section 711-1109.3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is repealed.
["§711-1109.3 Cruelty to animals;
fighting dogs. (1) A person commits the offense of cruelty to
animals if the person:
(a) Owns or trains any dog with the intent
that such dog shall be engaged in an exhibition of fighting with another dog;
(b) For amusement or gain, intentionally
causes any dog to fight with another dog, or causes any dog to injure another
dog; or
(c) Knowingly or recklessly permits any act
in violation of paragraph (a) or (b) to be done on the premises under the
person's charge or control, or aids or abets any such act.
(2) Nothing in this section shall prohibit
any of the following:
(a) The use of dogs in the management of
livestock by the owner of the livestock or the owner's employees or agents or
other persons in lawful custody thereof;
(b) The use of dogs in hunting wildlife
including game; or
(c) The training of dogs or the use of
equipment in the training of dogs for any purpose not prohibited by law.
(3) Violation of this section shall be a
class C felony.
(4) If there is any conflict between this
section and section 711-1109, or any other provision of law, this section shall
apply."]
SECTION 3. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun, before its effective date.
SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2112.