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DRAFT COMMITTEE PRINT
COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY AND PUBLIC SAFETY
JUNE 19, 2014
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section 432a to read as follows:
A BILL
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
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To amend the Revised Statutes of the District of Columbia to make the harassment of a police
animal a misdemeanor, to make the causing of significant injury to a police animal a
felony, and to set forth penalties for these violations.
BE IT ENACTED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
act be cited as the “Prohibition of the Harm of Police Animals Amendment Act of 2014”.
Sec. 2. To amend the Revised Statues of the District of Columbia by adding a new
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“Sec. 432a. Harm to Police Animals.
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(a) For the purposes of this section, the term:
(1) “Police animal” means a dog, horse, or other animal used by a law
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enforcement agency, correctional facility, police department, fire department, or search and
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rescue unit or agency, for the purpose of aiding in the detection of criminal activity, enforcement
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of laws, apprehension of criminal offenders, or search and rescue efforts, whether or not the dog,
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horse, or other animal is engaged in the performance of its official duties when a violation of this
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section occurs.
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(2) “Significant bodily injury” means an injury that requires hospitalization or
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immediate medical attention.
(b)(1) Any person who intentionally and without justifiable and excusable cause,
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harasses, interferes with, injures, or obstructs a police animal when he or she has reason to
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believe the animal is a police animal shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall
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be imprisoned not more than 180 days or fined not more than the amount set forth in section 101
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of the Criminal Fine Proportionality Amendment Act of 2012, effective June 11, 2013 (D.C. Law
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19-317; D.C. Official Code § 22-3571.01), or both.
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(2) Any person who violates subsection (b) of this section and causes significant
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bodily injury to, or the death of, a police animal shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction,
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shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years, or fined not more than the amount set forth in
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section 101 of the Criminal Fine Proportionality Act of 2012, effective June 11, 2013 (D.C. Law
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19-317; D.C. Official Code § 22-3571.01), or both.
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(3) The penalties set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection shall also
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apply to an owner or keeper of a dog or other animal who intentionally and without justifiable
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and excusable cause fails to restrain the dog or animal from attacking a police animal when the
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owner or keeper has reason to believe the animal is a police animal.”.
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Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement.
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The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal
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impact statement required by section 602(c)(3) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act,
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approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(3)).
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Sec. 4. Effective date.
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This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the
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Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 60-day period of Congressional review as
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provided in section 602(c)(2) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December
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24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(2)), and publication in the District of
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Columbia Register.
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