Bill

HB 748

85(R) - 2017
House Criminal Jurisprudence
House Criminal Jurisprudence
Counties
Courts

Vote Recommendation

No
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Neutral
  • Negative
  • Neutral

Author(s)

Jessica Farrar

Bill Caption

Relating to certain costs associated with certain court proceedings for cruelly treated animals; authorizing fees and costs. 

Fiscal Notes

From the LBB: No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. 

Bill Analysis

This bill would allow an owner found to have cruelly treated an animal in counties or municipalities with a population of at least 700,000 people to be ordered to pay the county or municipality's attorney fees.

Vote Recommendation Notes

This legislation is a case of overcriminalization. A person who is found at trial to have committed an offense under this chapter is liable for a Class B misdemeanor which is punishable by a fine up to $2,500, confinement in jail for up to 180 days, or both. Add a a person's own court costs and legal defense costs and the total consequences are already significant. Adding still further to the costs by requiring such a person to also be liable for the government's costs makes the total penalty disproportionate to the offense. For these reasons we oppose HB 748.