HOUSE BILL 326

48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

Rick Miera

AN ACT

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES; PROVIDING THAT EXTREME CRUELTY TO ANIMALS INCLUDES ABANDONMENT OR FAILURE TO PROVIDE SUSTENANCE.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. Section 30-18-1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1999, Chapter 107, Section 1, as amended) is amended to read:

     "30-18-1. CRUELTY TO ANIMALS--EXTREME CRUELTY TO ANIMALS--PENALTIES--EXCEPTIONS.--

          A. As used in this section, "animal" does not include insects or reptiles. 

          B. Cruelty to animals consists of a person:

                (1) negligently mistreating, injuring, killing without lawful justification or tormenting an animal; or

                (2) abandoning or failing to provide necessary sustenance to an animal that is under that person's custody or control in a way that is not life-threatening.

          C. As used in Subsection B of this section, "lawful justification" means:

                (1) humanely destroying a sick or injured

animal; or

                (2) protecting a person or animal from death or injury due to an attack by another animal.

          D. Whoever commits cruelty to animals is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of Section [31-19-1] 31-18-15 NMSA 1978. Upon a fourth or subsequent conviction for committing cruelty to animals, the offender is guilty of a fourth degree felony and shall be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-18-15 NMSA 1978.

          E. Extreme cruelty to animals consists of a person:

                (1) intentionally or maliciously torturing, mutilating, injuring or poisoning an animal; [or]

                (2) maliciously killing an animal; or

                (3) starving or dehydrating an animal in a way that imperils its life.

          F. Whoever commits extreme cruelty to animals is guilty of a fourth degree felony and shall be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-18-15 NMSA 1978.

          G. The court may order a person convicted for committing cruelty to animals to participate in an animal cruelty prevention program or an animal cruelty education program. The court may also order a person convicted for committing cruelty to animals or extreme cruelty to animals to obtain psychological counseling for treatment of a mental health disorder if, in the court's judgment, the mental health disorder contributed to the commission of the criminal offense. The offender shall bear the expense of participating in an animal cruelty prevention program, animal cruelty education program or psychological counseling ordered by the court.

          H. If a child is adjudicated of cruelty to animals, the court shall order an assessment and any necessary psychological counseling or treatment of the child.

          I. The provisions of this section do not apply to:

                (1) fishing, hunting, falconry, taking and trapping, as provided in Chapter 17 NMSA 1978;

                (2) the practice of veterinary medicine, as provided in Chapter 61, Article 14 NMSA 1978;

                (3) rodent or pest control, as provided in Chapter 77, Article 15 NMSA 1978;

                (4) the treatment of livestock and other animals used on farms and ranches for the production of food, fiber or other agricultural products, when the treatment is in accordance with commonly accepted agricultural animal husbandry practices;

                (5) the use of commonly accepted Mexican and American rodeo practices, unless otherwise prohibited by law;

                (6) research facilities [licensed pursuant to the provisions of 7 U.S.C.] registered pursuant to 7 USCA Section 2136, except when knowingly operating outside provisions, governing the treatment of animals, of a research or maintenance protocol approved by the institutional animal care and use committee of the facility; or

                (7) other similar activities not otherwise prohibited by law.

          J. If there is a dispute as to what constitutes commonly accepted agricultural animal husbandry practices or commonly accepted rodeo practices, the New Mexico livestock board shall hold a hearing to determine if the practice in question is a commonly accepted agricultural animal husbandry practice or commonly accepted rodeo practice.

          K. The provisions of this section shall not be interpreted to prohibit cockfighting in New Mexico."

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