76-13-209. Endangering, injuring, or killing a public safety animal.
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Effective 5/7/2025
76-13-209. Endangering, injuring, or killing a public safety animal.
(a)As used in this section:
(i)"Handler" means an individual who uses a public safety animal to assist with duties of a public safety organization.
(ii)"Public safety animal" means an animal that a public safety organization:
(A)owns or uses under contract; and
(B)uses, or allows another public safety organization to use, to assist with duties of a public safety organization.
(iii)"Public safety organization" means a government entity that provides a law enforcement, firefighting, search and rescue, military, or other public safety service.
(b)Terms defined in Sections 76-1-101.5 , 76-13-101 , and 76-13-201 apply to this section.
(2)An actor commits endangering, injuring, or killing a public safety animal if the actor intentionally or knowingly:
(a)causes the death of a public safety animal;
(b)causes bodily injury to a public safety animal;
(c)engages in conduct likely to cause bodily injury or death to a public safety animal; or
(d)lays out, places, or administers any poison, trap, substance, or object that is likely to produce bodily injury or death to a public safety animal.
(a)A violation of Subsection (2)(a) is a second degree felony.
(b)A violation of Subsection (2)(b) , (c), or
(d)is a third degree felony.
(a)A public safety animal is exempt from quarantine or other animal control ordinances if the public safety animal bites an individual while under proper supervision by a public safety organization or during routine veterinary care.
(b)The public safety organization and the public safety animal's handler shall make the public safety animal available for examination at a reasonable time and shall notify the local health officer if the public safety animal exhibits any abnormal behavior.
(5)In addition to any other penalty, an actor convicted of a violation of this section is liable for restitution to the owning or employing public safety organization or individual owner of the public safety animal for the replacement, training, and veterinary costs incurred as a result of the violation of this section.
Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 173 , 2025 General Session