HB 324 -- BESTIALITY

CO-SPONSORS:  Hollingsworth, Hanaway

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Criminal
Law by a vote of 11 to 0.

This bill prohibits persons from engaging in sexual conduct with
animals, from causing other persons to engage in sexual conduct
with animals, and from permitting sexual conduct with animals on
premises under their charge or control.  A violation is a class
D felony, unless it occurs in the presence of a minor, in which
case it is a class C felony.  Additionally, courts may prohibit
defendants from residing in households where animals are
present, may remove animals from defendants' households at their
expense, and may order psychological counseling and evaluation
for defendants at their expense.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Net Cost to General Revenue Fund of less
than $100,000 in FY 2002, FY 2003, and FY 2004.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill is necessary to
re-enact a criminal statute that was inadvertently repealed in a
prior revision of Missouri's criminal laws.  This crime exists
and is properly enforced in 24 states.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Hollingsworth;
Missouri Chapter for Concerned Women for America; and Missouri
Family Network.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Greg Linhares, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated November 26, 2001 at 11:43 am