1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to crime prevention; imposing criminal 
  1.3             penalties for killing or harming animals trained to 
  1.4             assist persons with disabilities; proposing coding for 
  1.5             new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 609. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  [609.5965] [KILLING OR HARMING AN ANIMAL 
  1.8   TRAINED TO ASSIST PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.] 
  1.9      Subdivision 1.  [CRIME DESCRIBED.] It is a crime for a 
  1.10  person to intentionally and without justification cause harm or 
  1.11  death to an animal trained to assist a person with a disability 
  1.12  while the animal is involved in that purpose or in the custody 
  1.13  of the disabled person.  A person who violates this subdivision 
  1.14  may be sentenced as provided in subdivision 2. 
  1.15     Subd. 2.  [CRIMINAL PENALTY.] (a) If the animal suffers 
  1.16  great bodily harm or death, the person is guilty of a felony and 
  1.17  may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than two years or 
  1.18  to payment of a fine of not more than $5,000, or both. 
  1.19     (b) If the animal suffers substantial bodily harm, the 
  1.20  person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. 
  1.21     (c) If the animal suffers bodily harm, the person is guilty 
  1.22  of a misdemeanor. 
  1.23     Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  1.24     Section 1 is effective August 1, 2001, and applies to 
  1.25  crimes committed on or after that date.