CHAPTER 295
HB 605-FN - FINAL VERSION
05/30/2019 1953s
27Jun2019... 2638-EBA
2019 SESSION
19-0653
08/04
HOUSE BILL 605-FN
AN ACT relative to criminal penalties for possession, transfer, or manufacture of animal fighting paraphernalia with the intent to be present at, aid in, or contribute to such fighting.
SPONSORS: Rep. Rogers, Merr. 28; Rep. Horrigan, Straf. 6; Rep. Burroughs, Carr. 1; Rep. Read, Rock. 17; Rep. Schultz, Merr. 18; Rep. Marsh, Carr. 8; Rep. Baldasaro, Rock. 5; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3
COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
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ANALYSIS
This bill creates criminal penalties for possession, transfer, or manufacture of animal fighting paraphernalia with the intent to be present at, aid in, or contribute to such fighting.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
05/30/2019 1953s
27Jun2019... 2638-EBA 19-0653
08/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen
AN ACT relative to criminal penalties for possession, transfer, or manufacture of animal fighting paraphernalia with the intent to be present at, aid in, or contribute to such fighting.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
295:1 Exhibitions of Fighting Animals; Sale or Transfer Prohibited. Amend RSA 644:8-a, I to read as follows:
I. No person shall offer for sale, sell, loan, export, keep, breed, or train any bird, dog, or other animal, with the intent that it or its offspring shall be engaged or used in an exhibition of fighting, or shall establish or promote an exhibition of the fighting thereof. Whoever violates the provisions of this paragraph shall be guilty of a class B felony.
295:2 Exhibitions of Fighting Animals; Paraphernalia and Assistance Prohibited. Amend RSA 644:8-a, III-V to read as follows:
III.(a) Any person who possesses, owns, buys, sells, transfers, or manufactures animal fighting paraphernalia with the intent to engage in or otherwise promote or facilitate such fighting shall be guilty of a class B felony.
(b) For purposes of this section, "animal fighting paraphernalia" means equipment, products, implements, and materials of any kind that are used, intended for use, or designed for use in the training, preparation, conditioning, or furtherance of animal fighting, and includes, but is not limited to, the following: breaking sticks, cat mills, fighting pits, springpoles, unprescribed anabolic steroids, unprescribed anti-inflammatory steroids, unprescribed antibiotics, treatment supplies or gaffs, slashers, heels, or any other sharp implement designed to be attached in place of the natural spur of a cock or game fowl.
(c) In determining whether an object is animal fighting paraphernalia, the court shall consider any prior convictions under federal or state law relating to animal fighting, the proximity of the object in time and space to the direct violation of this section, direct or circumstantial evidence of the intent of the accused to deliver the object to persons whom he or she knows or should reasonably know intend to use the object to facilitate a violation of this section, oral or written instructions provided with or in the vicinity of the object concerning its use, descriptive materials accompanying the object which explain or depict its use, and all other logically relevant factors.
IV. All animals so kept, bred, or trained by a person charged with violating the provisions of paragraph I may be seized by the arresting officer, pursuant to RSA 595-A:6 and RSA 644:8. Upon said person's conviction, said animals may, at the discretion of the court, be destroyed in a humane manner by a licensed veterinarian. The costs, if any, incurred in boarding the animals, pending disposition of the case, and in disposing of the animals, upon a conviction of said person for violating paragraph I, shall be borne by the person so convicted.
[IV.] V. Upon conviction of a violation of this section, all animals used or to be used in training, fighting, or baiting, and all equipment, paraphernalia, and money involved in a violation of this section may be forfeited to the state at the discretion of the court, pursuant to RSA 595-A:6. Proceeds of any such forfeiture shall be used to reimburse local government and state agencies for the costs of prosecution of animal fighting cases. Proceeds which are not needed for such reimbursement shall be deposited in the companion animal neutering fund, established in RSA 437-A:4-a.
[V.] VI. In addition to other penalties prescribed by law, [the court may issue an order prohibiting a person who is convicted of a violation of this section from owning or possessing any animals within the species that is the subject of the conviction, or any animals kept for the purpose of training, fighting, or baiting, for a period of time determined by the court.] the court shall issue an order prohibiting or limiting a person who is convicted of a violation of this section from owning or possessing any animals for a period not less than 5 years, and may add other reasonable restrictions on future ownership or possession of animals as necessary for the protection of the animals. Any animal involved in a violation of a court order prohibiting or limiting ownership or possession of animals shall be subject to immediate forfeiture. Any person violating such order may, in addition to being held in criminal contempt of court or subject to a probation violation, be fined in the amount of $1,000 in any court of competent jurisdiction for each animal held in unlawful ownership or possession. For purposes of this section, a reasonable restriction on future ownership or possession may include limiting a person from engaging in any employment in the care of animals or other similar contact as the court sees fit.
295:3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 90 days after its passage.
Approved: July 29, 2019
Effective Date: October 27, 2019
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| March 6, 2019 | House | Hearing |
| March 13, 2019 | House | Exec Session |
| House | Floor Vote | |
| March 19, 2019 | House | Floor Vote |
| May 9, 2019 | Senate | Hearing |
| May 23, 2019 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| May 23, 2019 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| May 30, 2019 | Senate | Floor Vote |
July 29, 2019: Signed by Governor Sununu 07/29/2019; Chapter 295; Eff: 10/27/2019
June 27, 2019: Enrolled 06/27/2019 HJ 20 P. 56
June 27, 2019: Enrolled (In recess 06/27/2019); SJ 21
June 27, 2019: Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2019-2638e: AA VV 06/27/2019 HJ 20 P. 54
June 27, 2019: Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2019-2638e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/27/2019); SJ 21
June 13, 2019: House Concurs with Senate Amendment 1953s (Rep. Cushing): MA VV 06/13/2019 HJ 19 P. 2
May 30, 2019: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2019-1953s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/30/2019; SJ 18
May 30, 2019: Committee Amendment # 2019-1953s, AA, VV; 05/30/2019; SJ 18
May 30, 2019: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2019-1953s, 05/30/2019; SC 24
May 23, 2019: Special Order to the next session, Without Objection, MA; 05/23/2019; SJ 17
May 23, 2019: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2019-1953s, 05/23/2019; SC 23
May 9, 2019: Hearing: 05/09/2019, Room 100, SH, 10:00 am; SC 21
March 28, 2019: Introduced 03/28/2019 and Referred to Judiciary; SJ 12
March 19, 2019: Ought to Pass: MA RC 215-124 03/19/2019 HJ 10 P. 102
March 19, 2019: Lay on Table (Rep. Pearl): MF DV 140-188 03/19/2019 HJ 10 P. 102
: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
March 19, 2019: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass for 03/19/2019 (Vote 13-7; RC) HC 16 P. 24
: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass (Vote 13-7; RC)
March 13, 2019: Executive Session: 03/13/2019 10:00 am LOB 204
March 6, 2019: Public Hearing: 03/06/2019 02:00 pm LOB 204
Jan. 3, 2019: Introduced 01/03/2019 and referred to Criminal Justice and Public Safety HJ 3 P. 21