H.B. 4741 allows an individual to petition the family division of circuit court to enter a personal protection order to restrain or enjoin
- a spouse or former spouse,
- an individual with whom he or she has had a child,
- an individual whom he or she has dated, or
- an individual residing or having resided in the same household with the petitioner,
who has injured, killed, tortured, neglected or threatened to injure, kill, torture or neglect an animal in the petitioner's possession.
H.B. 4742 makes a person who:
- willfully, maliciously, and without just cause or excuse kills, tortures, mutilates, maims, or disfigures an animal, or
- willfully and maliciously and without just cause or excuse administers poison to an animal, or
- exposes an animal to any poisonous substance other for therapeutic veterinary medical purposes, with the intent that the substance be taken or swallowed by the animal,
as the means of perpetrating an act of domestic violence, guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than six years or a fine of not more than $7,500, or both.
H.B. 4743 adds the crime of killing or torturing animals in perpetration of domestic violence to the criminal code.
