Revision: July 29, 2021, 8:50 a.m.
CHAPTER 155
HB 338-FN - FINAL VERSION
8Apr2021... 0395h
05/13/2021 1296s
2021 SESSION
21-0263
08/06
HOUSE BILL 338-FN
AN ACT relative to penalties for dog theft and tampering with a dog's radio collar.
SPONSORS: Rep. Sullivan, Sull. 1; Rep. Rollins, Sull. 6; Rep. Goley, Hills. 8; Rep. Comtois, Belk. 7
COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill makes the first instance of the crime of dog theft a misdemeanor, the second instance a class B felony, and any subsequent instance a class A felony.
This bill also makes it a crime to remove certain collars from certain dogs.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
8Apr2021... 0395h
05/13/2021 1296s 21-0263
08/06
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty One
AN ACT relative to penalties for dog theft and tampering with a dog's radio collar.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
155:1 Stealing Dogs; Tampering With Collars. RSA 466:42-a is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
466:42-a Stealing Dogs; Tampering With Collars.
I. Whoever steals a dog shall be guilty of a misdemeanor for the first and second offense, and a class B felony for each subsequent offense.
II. Whoever distributes or exposes a poisonous substance with intent that the same shall be eaten by any dog shall be liable to the dog's owner for its value and shall be guilty of a class B felony.
III.(a) An individual other than the owner or the authorized agent of the owner of a dog, shall not willfully or maliciously remove, tamper with, damage, or destroy a collar, tracking collar, or other electronic device placed on a dog by its owner to maintain control or locate the dog.
(b) An individual other than the owner or the authorized agent of the owner of a dog, shall not remove or cause to be removed a microchip from such dog.
(c) An individual who violates this paragraph shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(d) Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to affect the actions of law enforcement, animal control, or an animal shelter in removing a collar or tracking collar if the dog is in imminent danger or after 7 consecutive days under RSA 466:18-a, and given that all possible effort was made to locate the dog's owner and documentation to that effect is maintained for one year.
155:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2022.
Approved: July 28, 2021
Effective Date: January 01, 2022