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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill prohibits the harassment of livestock.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 ▸ prohibits a person from intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly chasing, actively
13 disturbing, or harming livestock through the use of:
14 • a motorized vehicle or all-terrain vehicle;
15 • a dog; or
16 • an unmanned aircraft system; and
17 ▸ describes the penalties for violating the prohibition on harassment of livestock.
18 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
19 None
20 Other Special Clauses:
21 None
22 Utah Code Sections Affected:
23 ENACTS:
24 76-9-308, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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26 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
27 Section 1. Section 76-9-308 is enacted to read:
28 76-9-308. Harassment of livestock.
29 (1) As used in this section:
30 (a) "Livestock" has the same meaning as that term is defined in Subsection 76-9-301(1).
31 (b) "Unmanned aircraft system" has the same meaning as that term is defined in
32 Subsection 63G-18-102(5)(a).
33 (2) Except as provided in Subsection (3), a person is guilty of harassment of livestock if
34 the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly chases, with the intent of causing distress, or
35 harms livestock through the use of:
36 (a) a motorized vehicle or all-terrain vehicle;
37 (b) a dog; or
38 (c) an unmanned aircraft system.
39 (3) A person is not guilty of harassment of livestock if:
40 (a) the person is:
41 (i) the owner of the livestock;
42 (ii) an employee or agent of the owner, or otherwise acting under the owner's general
43 direction or with the owner's permission;
44 (iii) acting in an emergency situation to prevent damage to the livestock or property; or
45 (iv) an employee or agent of the state or a political subdivision and acting in the
46 employee or agent's official capacity; or
47 (b) the action is in line with generally accepted animal husbandry practices.
48 (4) A person who violates this section is guilty of:
49 (a) a class B misdemeanor if the violation is a first offense and:
50 (i) no livestock is seriously injured or killed as a result of the person's actions; or
51 (ii) the person's actions cause the livestock to be displaced onto property where the
52 livestock is not legally entitled to be; and
53 (b) a class A misdemeanor if:
54 (i) the person has previously been convicted of harassment of livestock under this
55 section;
56 (ii) livestock is seriously injured or killed as a result of the person's actions; or
57 (iii) livestock or property suffered damage in excess of $1,000, including money spent
58 in recovering the livestock, as a result of the person's actions.