TITLE: Relating to the prosecution and punishment of the offense of cruelty to nonlivestock animals.

SUMMARY: Relating to the prosecution and punishment of the offense of cruelty to nonlivestock animals.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to the prosecution and punishment of the offense of cruelty to nonlivestock animals. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Chapter 42, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended by adding Article 42.0365 to read as follows: Art. 42.0365. PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING FOR CRUELTY TO NONLIVESTOCK ANIMALS. A court sentencing a defendant for an offense under Section 42.092, Penal Code, shall order the defendant to participate in psychological counseling for a period to be determined by the court. SECTION 2. Section 42.092(a)(2), Penal Code, is amended to read as follows: (2) "Animal" means a [domesticated] living creature, including any domesticated living creature and any [stray or feral cat or dog, and a] wild living creature [previously captured].The term does not include [an uncaptured wild living creature or] a livestock animal. SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.