Enrolled Bill Summary

House Bill 240 amends the Penal Code to establish, as a first-degree felony, criminal mischief involving intentional or knowing damage to livestock through the introduction of specified animal diseases. The diseases covered by the bill include mad cow disease, foot-and-mouth disease, anthrax, rabies, hog cholera, tuberculosis, Malta fever, equine infectious anemia, glanders, hemorrhagic septicemia, infectious abortion, and other diseases recognized as communicable by the veterinary profession. Covered livestock include cattle, horses, mules, asses, hogs, sheep, and goats.