1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to animals; specifying proper care of certain 
  1.3             animals; amending Minnesota Statutes 1996, sections 
  1.4             343.24, subdivision 1; 343.40, subdivision 2; and 
  1.5             346.38, subdivision 4. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 343.24, 
  1.8   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  1.9      Subdivision 1.  [PENALTY.] Any person who does any of the 
  1.10  following is guilty of a misdemeanor:  (a) Carries or causes to 
  1.11  be carried, any live animals upon any vehicle or otherwise, 
  1.12  without providing suitable racks, cars, crates, or cages in 
  1.13  which the animals can both stand and lie down during 
  1.14  transportation and while awaiting slaughter; (b) Carries or 
  1.15  causes to be carried, upon a vehicle or otherwise, any live 
  1.16  animal having, except an animal that weighs 150 pounds or less 
  1.17  and is cloven-hoofed, that has its feet or legs tied together, 
  1.18  or in any other a cruel or inhuman inhumane manner or for a 
  1.19  time in excess of one hour; (c) Transports or detains livestock 
  1.20  in cars or compartments for more than 28 consecutive hours 
  1.21  without unloading the livestock in a humane manner into properly 
  1.22  equipped pens for rest, water, and feeding for a period of at 
  1.23  least five consecutive hours, unless requested to do so as 
  1.24  provided in subdivision 2, or unless prevented by storm or 
  1.25  unavoidable causes which cannot be anticipated or avoided by the 
  2.1   exercise of due diligence and foresight; or (d) Permits 
  2.2   livestock to be crowded together without sufficient space to 
  2.3   stand, or so as to overlie, crush, wound, or kill each other. 
  2.4      Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 343.40, 
  2.5   subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  2.6      Subd. 2.  [BUILDING SPECIFICATIONS.] The shelter shall 
  2.7   include a moistureproof and windproof structure of suitable size 
  2.8   to accommodate the dog and allow retention of body heat.  It 
  2.9   shall be made of durable material with a solid, moisture-proof 
  2.10  floor or a floor raised at least two inches from the ground and 
  2.11  with the entrance covered by a flexible windproof material or a 
  2.12  self-closing swinging door.  Between November 1 and March 31 the 
  2.13  structure must have a windbreak at the entrance.  The structure 
  2.14  shall be provided with a sufficient quantity of suitable bedding 
  2.15  material consisting of hay, straw, cedar shavings, blankets, or 
  2.16  the equivalent, to provide insulation and protection against 
  2.17  cold and dampness and promote retention of body heat. 
  2.18     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 346.38, 
  2.19  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
  2.20     Subd. 4.  [SHELTER.] Equines must be provided a minimum of 
  2.21  free choice protection or of a constructed or natural shelter 
  2.22  from direct rays of the sun when temperatures exceed 95 degrees 
  2.23  Fahrenheit, from wind, and from freezing precipitation that is 
  2.24  available during extreme weather conditions.  Natural or 
  2.25  constructed shelters must be of sufficient size to provide the 
  2.26  necessary protection.  Constructed shelters must, be 
  2.27  structurally sound, free of injurious matter, maintained in good 
  2.28  repair, and ventilated.  Outdoor exercise paddocks for equines 
  2.29  do not require constructed or natural shelters where such 
  2.30  shelter is available to the equine elsewhere on the property.