BSB/4/16
Sponsored by Cimbri Cotton, Mac Miller of St. Cecilia Academy
This legislation was filed in the General Services category
Presented as part of the YIG Volunteer 2024 conference
| 1 | BE IT ENACTED BY THE TENNESSEE YMCA YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT |
| 2 | |
| 3 | Section 1: Terms in this act will be defined as followed: |
| 4 | Service Animal - any animal that is individually trained to do or perform tasks for the benefit of an |
| 5 | individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental |
| 6 | disability. |
| 7 | Felony - a crime, typically one involving violence, regarded as more serious than a misdemeanor, |
| 8 | and usually punishable by imprisonment for more than one year or by death. |
| 9 | TENN. CODE ANN. 39-14-205. Intentional killing of an animal- It is an offense to knowingly and |
| 10 | unlawfully kill the animal of another without the owner’s effective consent. |
| 11 | Class E felony - punishment for a crime that includes up to 1 to 6 years of jail time and a fine up |
| 12 | to $3,000. |
| 13 | |
| 14 | Section 2: This bill is to propose a change in the TENN. CODE ANN. 39-14-205 for intentional |
| 15 | killing of an animal, deciphering the punishment due when a person intentionally kills an animal |
| 16 | depending on its value or the average animal. |
| 17 | The bill will modify the punishment of the crime based on the animal's determined value. |
| 18 | The value is based on the cost of the animal and the specialized training it has received when |
| 19 | dealing with a police dog, fire dog, search and rescue dog, service animal or police horse. |
| 20 | |
| 21 | Section 3: Intentional murder of any domesticated animals will be punished as a Class E felony |
| 22 | and the person, or persons will be fined with the cost of the animal, any special training the animal |
| 23 | has received, and any other costs deemed necessary by the court. |
| 24 | Section 4: This bill will not require any finances from the state of Tennessee. |
| 25 | |
| 26 | Section 5: All laws or parts of laws in conflict with this are hereby repealed. |
| 27 | |
| 28 | Section 6: This act shall take effect January 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it. |
| 29 |