HB 492: CRIME: Provides relative to cruelty to animals (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX) - Louisiana

HB492 Original → HB492 Act · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill reorganizes and clarifies the definitions of animal cruelty in Louisiana, separating 'simple cruelty' from the more severe 'aggravated cruelty.' It adds specific exemptions for finding and surrendering stray animals to shelters, ensuring these actions are not considered abandonment. The act also updates penalties, introducing mandatory psychological evaluations for repeat offenders and new bans on owning animals for those convicted of aggravated cruelty.

Scope change

The bill clarifies the scope of criminal liability by explicitly exempting the act of turning in a stray animal to a shelter from being classified as abandonment, while simultaneously expanding the definition of aggravated cruelty to include specific acts like tampering with livestock at public events.

DEFINITION

Added an explicit exemption stating that delivering a stray animal found running at large to an animal control center, shelter, or rescue location does not constitute abandonment.

Created a distinct category for 'aggravated cruelty to animals,' defining it as intentionally torturing, maiming, or mutilating an animal, or mistreating an animal in a way that causes death.

ENFORCEMENT

Increased penalties for aggravated cruelty to include fines up to $25,000 and imprisonment of up to 10 years, and added mandatory psychological evaluations and potential bans on owning animals for repeat offenders.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement that offenders convicted of aggravated cruelty must undergo a psychological evaluation and may be banned from owning or keeping animals for up to ten years.

HB492 Enrolled → HB492 Original · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was renumbered from 'Enrolled' to 'Original' and expanded from four pages to six pages, indicating a significant addition of text. The most critical change is the reorganization of the cruelty to animals statute, which now clearly separates 'simple cruelty' from 'aggravated cruelty' with distinct definitions and penalties. This structural update clarifies the legal standards for different levels of animal abuse and ensures that specific acts like mistreating livestock at public exhibitions are explicitly included in the aggravated cruelty provisions.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include more detailed definitions of aggravated cruelty and clarified the penalties for repeat offenders, moving from a single consolidated list to a tiered system that distinguishes between simple and aggravated offenses.

DEFINITION

Added explicit definitions for 'aggravated cruelty to animals' involving torture, maiming, or mutilation, ensuring these severe acts are legally distinct from simple neglect.

Included specific language prohibiting tampering with livestock at public exhibitions or private sales as a form of aggravated cruelty.

REQUIREMENT

Reorganized the statute to clearly separate simple cruelty penalties from aggravated cruelty penalties, making the sentencing guidelines for different levels of abuse more transparent.

ENFORCEMENT

Clarified that offenders convicted of aggravated cruelty may be banned from owning animals for up to ten years and must undergo psychological evaluation and treatment.

TECHNICAL

Updated the document header from 'Enrolled' to 'Original' and increased the page count from four to six, reflecting the insertion of new substantive text.

HB492 Engrossed → HB492 Enrolled · 4 edits · Jun 8, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was finalized as an enrolled version, removing prefiling constitutional language and updating page counts. Substantively, the text shows a significant reorganization of animal cruelty laws, merging simple and aggravated cruelty definitions and adding new provisions for mandatory psychological evaluations and community service for offenders.

Scope change

The bill's scope appears to have been consolidated, combining definitions for simple and aggravated cruelty into a single structure and adding specific mandates for offender treatment and bans on animal ownership.

TECHNICAL

Removed prefiling constitutional language and the 'ENGROSSED' header, replacing them with the 'ENROLLED' status to indicate the bill is in its final form.

DEFINITION

Reorganized the definitions of simple and aggravated cruelty, integrating specific acts like mistreatment and failure to provide care into a unified list of offenses.

REQUIREMENT

Added mandatory requirements for offenders to undergo psychological evaluations and complete community service, with costs borne by the defendant.

ENFORCEMENT

Introduced new provisions allowing courts to issue orders banning offenders from owning or keeping animals for up to ten years following a conviction.

CRIME: Provides relative to cruelty to animals (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

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