SB 882 - This act expands the definition of "animal facility" to include an animal farming operation, business or organization that engages in the agricultural production or scientific research, including barns, buildings or other structures.

This act makes it illegal to release, steal, or intentionally cause injury to animals at these facilities. Other prohibitions include but are not limited to, damaging, stealing or vandalizing property within the facility, illegally obtaining records from the facility, and the release or theft of animals from a facility. Penalties are laid out for violations of these prohibitions as are recovery provisions for persons damaged by those who violate the act.

The act makes it a Class D felony if a person photographs, videotapes or otherwise obtains images without the express written consent of the animal facility, from a location not legally accessible to the public.

This act makes it a Class B felony for a person to intentionally or knowingly release or introduce any pathogen or disease in or near an animal facility that has the potential to cause disease to an animal or that threatens the human health or biosecurity at the animal facility.

This act also gives the Director of the Department of Agriculture the ability to initiate civil legal action in the circuit court of the county where the violation occurred.

This act is identical to SB 657(2003).
MEGAN CRAIN