Concerning a prohibition on slaughtering equines for human consumption.
SESSION: 2023 Regular Session
SUBJECTS: Business & Economic Development, Crimes, Corrections, & Enforcement
BILL SUMMARY
Section 1 of the bill establishes the crime of unlawful equine slaughter. A person engages in unlawful equine slaughter if the person:
- Slaughters an equine when the person knows or reasonably should know that any part of the equine will be used for human consumption;
- Possesses, imports into the state, exports from the state, buys, sells, gives away, or accepts an equine with the intent of killing, or having another person kill, the equine if the person knows or reasonably should know that any part of the equine will be used for human consumption; or
- Possesses, imports into the state, exports from the state, buys, sells, gives away, or accepts equine meat if the person knows or reasonably should know that the meat will be used for human consumption.
Section 1 provides a safe harbor to the offense for equine slaughtered for use by a facility in feeding predators housed at the facility.
Each equine that is unlawfully slaughtered and each 100 pounds of equine meat derived from unlawful slaughter is a separate offense. A first violation is a class 1 misdemeanor with a mandatory minimum fine of $1,000, and a second or subsequent violation within a 10-year period is a class 5 felony with a mandatory minimum fine of $5,000. If a person obtains the equine by fraud and commits unlawful equine slaughter, it is a class 4 felony with a mandatory minimum fine of $10,000. In addition, a person that commits unlawful equine slaughter is forever prohibited from owning, possessing, or caring for an equine and from participating in a public livestock market for 3 to 5 years.
Sections 2 and 3 require notice of the crime of unlawful equine slaughter to be given at livestock auctions and on bills of sale.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
There was a hearing February 2, 2023. (A hearing is a meeting or session of a Senate, House, joint, or special committee of Congress, usually open to the public, to obtain information and opinions on proposed legislation, conduct an investigation, or evaluate/oversee the activities of a government department or the implementation of a Federal law.)
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