The Senate Judiciary Committee met on Tuesday afternoon and passed two bills regarding the involuntary hospitalization of patients and assaulting police dogs.
Senate Bill 742 would revise procedures related to involuntary hospitalization in hospital settings.
This bill would permit an authorized staff physician to order a 72-hour involuntary hold if the physician determines an individual is mentally ill and likely to cause serious harm to themselves or others, without first contacting a list of enumerated individuals.
This bill is intended to extend the time frame to file a mental hygiene petition from 24 hours to 72 hours following hospitalization.
Senate Bill 200 would create felony charges for individuals who willfully cause death or injury to public safety animals.
Public Safety Animal is defined in the bill as a dog or any other animal specifically trained to assist public safety officers or persons working under the direction of, or in cooperation with, public safety officers in the performance of their official duties.
If an individual willfully causes the death of a public safety animal, they would be guilty of a felony and would be fined no less than $2,000 and no more than $5,000 or imprisoned for no less than two years and no more than 10 years.
If a person willfully causes serious physical injuries to a public safety animal, they would be guilty of a felony and would be fined no less than $1,000 and no more than $3,000 or imprisoned no less than one year and no more than five years.
This bill was past in its current for my the Senate last year, but failed to complete action in the House of Delegates.
Both bills were reported to the full Senate with a recommendation of passage.
