Bill > SB124

This bill establishes comprehensive new provisions for animal care and seizure in Kentucky, focusing on protecting animals from cruelty while ensuring a fair process for animal owners. The legislation creates new legal definitions for terms like "animal cruelty law" and "cost of care," and provides a detailed framework for law enforcement and animal control officers to seize animals in cases of suspected mistreatment. When an animal is seized, the seizing agency must serve a notice to the owner within 24 hours, explaining the seizure and providing a declaration of ownership form. The bill allows agencies to petition a court to require owners to pay for the animal's care costs during legal proceedings, with a hearing to determine probable cause for the seizure. If an owner is convicted of animal cruelty, the court can impose additional penalties, such as animal forfeiture, reimbursement of care costs, and a five-year prohibition on owning or accessing animals. The bill also modifies the Animal Control Advisory Board by reducing the number of board members from each nominating organization from two to one and adding a new member from Kentucky Animal Action. Importantly, the bill applies to most animals but specifically excludes livestock and poultry, with the exception of horses.

Government Affairs

https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/25RS/sb124.html