1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the creation of the offense of interference with a 1-3 police service animal and to the efficient use of police service 1-4 animals. 1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-6 SECTION 1. Chapter 38, Penal Code, is amended by adding 1-7 Section 38.151 to read as follows: 1-8 Sec. 38.151. INTERFERENCE WITH POLICE SERVICE ANIMALS. (a) 1-9 In this section: 1-10 (1) "Area of control" includes a vehicle, trailer, 1-11 kennel, pen, or yard. 1-12 (2) "Handler or rider" means a peace officer, 1-13 corrections officer, or jailer who is specially trained to use a 1-14 police service animal for law enforcement, corrections, prison or 1-15 jail security, or investigative purposes. 1-16 (3) "Police service animal" means a dog, horse, or 1-17 other domesticated animal that is specially trained for use by a 1-18 handler or rider. 1-19 (b) A person commits an offense if the person recklessly: 1-20 (1) taunts, torments, or strikes a police service 1-21 animal; 1-22 (2) throws an object or substance at a police service 1-23 animal; 1-24 (3) interferes with or obstructs a police service 2-1 animal or interferes with or obstructs the handler or rider of a 2-2 police service animal in a manner that: 2-3 (A) inhibits or restricts the handler's or 2-4 rider's control of the animal; or 2-5 (B) deprives the handler or rider of control of 2-6 the animal; 2-7 (4) releases a police service animal from its area of 2-8 control; 2-9 (5) enters the area of control of a police service 2-10 animal without the effective consent of the handler or rider, 2-11 including placing food or any other object or substance into that 2-12 area; 2-13 (6) injures or kills a police service animal; or 2-14 (7) engages in conduct likely to injure or kill a 2-15 police service animal, including administering or setting a poison, 2-16 trap, or any other object or substance. 2-17 (c) An offense under this section is: 2-18 (1) a Class C misdemeanor if the person commits an 2-19 offense under Subsection (b)(1); 2-20 (2) a Class B misdemeanor if the person commits an 2-21 offense under Subsection (b)(2); 2-22 (3) a Class A misdemeanor if the person commits an 2-23 offense under Subsection (b)(3), (4), or (5); 2-24 (4) a state jail felony if the person commits an 2-25 offense under Subsection (b)(6) or (7) by injuring a police service 2-26 animal or by engaging in conduct likely to injure the animal; or 2-27 (5) a felony of the third degree if the person commits 3-1 an offense under Subsection (b)(6) or (7) by killing a police 3-2 service animal or by engaging in conduct likely to kill the animal. 3-3 SECTION 2. Subchapter E, Chapter 826, Health and Safety 3-4 Code, is amended by adding Section 826.048 to read as follows: 3-5 Sec. 826.048. EXEMPTION FROM QUARANTINE REQUIREMENT FOR 3-6 POLICE SERVICE ANIMALS. (a) In this section, "handler or rider" 3-7 and "police service animal" have the meanings assigned by Section 3-8 38.151, Penal Code. 3-9 (b) A police service animal is exempt from the quarantine 3-10 requirement of this subchapter if the animal bites a person while 3-11 the animal is under routine veterinary care or while the animal is 3-12 being used for law enforcement, corrections, prison or jail 3-13 security, or investigative purposes. If after biting the person 3-14 the animal exhibits any abnormal behavior, the law enforcement 3-15 agency and the animal's handler or rider shall make the animal 3-16 available within a reasonable time for testing by the local health 3-17 authority. 3-18 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001. _______________________________ _______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.B. No. 280 was passed by the House on May 5, 2001, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 280 was passed by the Senate on May 22, 2001, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0, 1 present, not voting. _______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: __________________________ Date __________________________ Governor