1     
LIVESTOCK HARASSMENT

2     
2017 GENERAL SESSION

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STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Scott H. Chew

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Senate Sponsor: Don L. Ipson

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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
25     

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.