Bills › 88th General Assembly
Providing that a licensed veterinarian is immune from administrative, civil, or criminal liability in investigations or proceedings involving the mistreatment of animals
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 16, 2020
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 22, 2020
- Stopped: Senate committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Skipped: House committeeSkipped
- Done: Passes the HouseMarch 4, 2020
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2020 session adjourned on June 14, 2020, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY. This bill amends provisions in Code chapter 169, the “Iowa Veterinary Practice Act”, by providing that a licensed veterinarian is immune from administrative, civil, or criminal liability for actions taken while assisting in the investigation or prosecution of another person for conduct that, if true, would constitute an offense punishable as a misdemeanor or felony under several Code chapters. Code chapter 717B prohibits various forms of animal mistreatment, including abuse, neglect, torture, and injuring or interfering with a police service dog; Code chapter 717C prohibits bestiality; and Code chapter 717D prohibits animal contest events.
Read the full explanation
The licensed veterinarian is shielded from administrative, civil, or criminal liability for cooperating in a criminal investigation; assisting a county or city in rescuing a threatened animal; participating in a civil proceeding to determine the disposition of an animal or complying with a court order arising from that proceeding; or providing evidence in an administrative, civil, or criminal proceeding. The bill provides that the licensed veterinarian is not subject to professional discipline by the Iowa veterinary board for taking action that shields the licensed veterinarian from liability. Finally, the bill provides that a licensed veterinarian is immune from liability from a claim based on an act by the licensed veterinarian while assisting a municipality in rescuing a threatened animal. BACKGROUND. The offenses in Code chapter 717B apply generally to all nonhuman vertebrate animals, including dogs and cats, unless specifically excluded. It does not apply to livestock (Code chapter 717); game, fur-bearing animals, fish, reptiles, or amphibians (Code chapter 481A), unless such animal is owned, confined, or controlled by a person; or nongame animals declared to be a nuisance by the natural resource commission (Code chapter 481A). A local authority (city or county) may rescue a threatened animal and a court may provide for the disposition of that animal. A threatened animal is an animal that has been abused, neglected, or tortured. Code chapter 717C applies to any nonhuman vertebrate animal without exception and the offense involves a person’s sexual contact with the animal. Code chapter 717D also applies to any nonhuman vertebrate animal without exception and the offense involves a person participating in an event organized for entertainment or profit where any animal is injured, tormented, or killed.
Senate subcommittee
Named January 22, 2020. On February 19, 2020 it recommended passage.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
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88th General Assembly
Picked up later
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.
Similar bills
- HF 623 Providing that a licensed veterinarian is immune from administrative, civil, or criminal l…89th General Assembly · Passed HouseNearly identical
- HSB 181 HSB 18190th General Assembly · Renumbered as HF 472Similar
- HSB 708 HSB 70889th General Assembly · Renumbered as HF 2429Similar
- HF 227 Providing for the conduct of licensed veterinarians when involved in certain legal matters…91st General Assembly · In committeeSimilar
- HF 869 Providing for the conduct of licensed veterinarians when involved in certain legal matters…91st General Assembly · Passed HouseSimilar
Matched by wording or an identical title.