Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 217 Third Substitute (2017GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Chew, S.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/21/2017

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Gary R. Herbert

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• prohibits a person from intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly chasing, actively disturbing, or harming livestock through the use of:
• a motorized vehicle or all-terrain vehicle;
• a dog; or
• an unmanned aircraft system; and
• describes the penalties for violating the prohibition on harassment of livestock.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

LIVESTOCK HARASSMENT
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Scott H. Chew
Senate Sponsor: 
Don L. Ipson
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill prohibits the harassment of livestock.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ prohibits a person from intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly chasing, actively
disturbing, or harming livestock through the use of:
• a motorized vehicle or all-terrain vehicle;
• a dog; or
• an unmanned aircraft system; and
▸ describes the penalties for violating the prohibition on harassment of livestock.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
ENACTS:
76-9-308
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
76-9-308
 is enacted to read:
 76-9-308.
Harassment of livestock.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Livestock" has the same meaning as that term is defined in Subsection 
76-9-301
(1).
(b) "Unmanned aircraft system" has the same meaning as that term is defined in
Subsection 
63G-18-102
(5)(a).
(2) Except as provided in Subsection (3), a person is guilty of harassment of livestock if
the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly chases, with the intent of causing distress, or
harms livestock through the use of:
(a) a motorized vehicle or all-terrain vehicle;
(b) a dog; or
(c) an unmanned aircraft system.
(3) A person is not guilty of harassment of livestock if:
(a) the person is:
(i) the owner of the livestock;
(ii) an employee or agent of the owner, or otherwise acting under the owner's general
direction or with the owner's permission;
(iii) acting in an emergency situation to prevent damage to the livestock or property; or
(iv) an employee or agent of the state or a political subdivision and acting in the
employee or agent's official capacity; or
(b) the action is in line with generally accepted animal husbandry practices.
(4) A person who violates this section is guilty of:
(a) a class B misdemeanor if the violation is a first offense and:
(i) no livestock is seriously injured or killed as a result of the person's actions; or
(ii) the person's actions cause the livestock to be displaced onto property where the
livestock is not legally entitled to be; and
(b) a class A misdemeanor if:
(i) the person has previously been convicted of harassment of livestock under this
section;
(ii) livestock is seriously injured or killed as a result of the person's actions; or
(iii) livestock or property suffered damage in excess of $1,000, including money spent
in recovering the livestock, as a result of the person's actions.