SB262 Alabama 2019 Session

Under existing law, there is no prohibition against leaving a domestic animal in a motor vehicle unattended in a manner that creates an unreasonable risk of injury or harm to the animal

Also under existing law, there is no specific provision that provides criminal immunity to a person who rescues a domestic animal from an unattended motor vehicle

This bill would prohibit any person from leaving a domestic animal in a motor vehicle unattended in a manner that creates an unreasonable risk of injury or harm to the animal

This bill would also provide criminal immunity to a person who rescues a domestic animal from an unattended motor vehicle

This bill would provide civil and criminal immunity to a public safety official who rescues an animal from an unattended motor vehicle

This bill would also make it a crime to leave a domestic animal in an unattended motor vehicle under certain circumstances

Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama 1901 prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose

The purpose or effect of this general law would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621

If this bill is not enacted by a 2/3 vote, it will not become effective with regard to a local entity unless approved by the local entity or until, and only as long as, the Legislature appropriates funds or provides for a local source of revenue

Relating to animals; to prohibit any person from leaving a domestic animal in a motor vehicle unattended in a manner that creates an unreasonable risk of injury or harm to the animal; to provide criminal immunity to a person who rescues a domestic animal from an unattended motor vehicle; to provide civil and criminal immunity to a public safety official who rescues an animal from an unattended motor vehicle; to amend Section 13A-11-241, Code of Alabama 1975, to make it a crime to leave a domestic animal in an unattended motor vehicle under certain circumstances; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds.