Bill
HB 6015
Updates Michigan's animal cruelty law to require proper shelter for dogs and livestock, with doghouse, weather protection, and tethering rules; strengthens enforcement.
Subject: Animals — care and treatment; modifies definition of “shelter” in section 50 of the Michigan Penal Code (MCL 750.50)
Status & procedural history
- Introduced Sept. 26, 2024 (Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou).
- Reported with substitute (H‑1) and referred to second reading (12‑11‑2024). Committee work in Criminal Justice and Local Government & Municipal Finance; earlier referrals to Commerce subcommittees.
- Companion / tie‑bar bills: HB 6016 (Animal Welfare Act) and HB 6017 (Revised Judicature Act) — these are tie‑barred and cannot take effect unless HB 6015 is enacted.
- If enacted, will amend MCL 750.50 (section 50 of the Michigan Penal Code). The substitute is the version reflected in committee reports.
Purpose / intent
- To clarify and tighten the statutory definition of “shelter” and related care standards for animals (particularly dogs) in Michigan’s criminal neglect/cruelty statute. The goal is to specify what counts as adequate shelter under varying weather conditions and animal characteristics (e.g., fur/hair).
Key provisions (substitute H‑1)
- Revises the definition of “shelter” to require:
- Adequate protection from elements and weather conditions suitable for the animal’s age, species, physical condition, and the thickness/length of its fur or hair.
- If weather poses an extreme risk to health/safety, protection or shade must be provided at all times necessary to maintain good health.
- For livestock, shelter explicitly includes structures or natural features (trees, topography).
- Adds detailed standards for dog sheltering:
- Acceptable shelters include (one or more): the owner’s residence (with appropriate light, ventilation, and temperature control), a doghouse, or an insulated garage/barn/shed (or such a structure that includes an acceptable doghouse accessible to the dog).
- Doghouse requirements: an enclosed structure with both a roof and a floor, appropriate dimensions for breed/size, and dry bedding that insulates and protects from cold/damp when outdoor temperature is or is predicted to drop below freezing. “Dry bedding” examples: straw or cedar shavings; expressly excludes blankets, rags, or other moisture‑retaining materials.
- Prohibits common makeshift or inadequate shelters from qualifying unless suitably modified: crawl spaces under buildings or steps; metal/plastic barrels; animal carriers or transport crates; wire crates; space under or inside vehicles (unless vehicle is running climate control under adult supervision); cardboard shelters; shelters with wire/chain‑link floors.
- Other defined terms clarified or added: “sanitary conditions,” “tethering,” “water” (potable), “state of good health,” “animal control shelter,” “animal protection shelter,” “breeder,” and “licensed veterinarian.”
- Tethering standard: tether must be at least three times the length of the dog (nose to tail base) and attached to a harness or non‑choke collar designed for tethering; specific grooming/training/transport/hunt exceptions.
Who is affected
- Animal owners, possessors, breeders, pet shop operators, and anyone having charge or custody of animals in Michigan.
- Animal control and protection shelters, veterinarians, prosecutors, and local law enforcement officials enforcing animal neglect/cruelty laws.
Penalties, enforcement, and related provisions
- HB 6015 amends the statutory standards that underpin cruelty/neglect prosecutions under MCL 750.50. Existing penalty structure under section 50 remains in place: penalties vary by number of animals affected, severity, and prior convictions (ranging from misdemeanors with fines and up to ~93 days jail for single‑animal first offenses to felonies with multiyear prison terms and larger fines for larger/recurring offenses). Courts may also order costs of care, prohibition on animal possession, and other remedies.
- The substitute preserves impoundment and related civil action mechanisms for animals held pending criminal cases.
Fiscal impact
- House fiscal analysis: indeterminate. Narrowing/clarifying shelter standards could increase reported violations/prosecutions and thus local and state criminal justice costs (county jails, probation, state prison, court workload). The magnitude is unknown.
Effective date
- The introduced/substitute language indicates the bills would take effect 90 days after enactment (per committee summaries). Exact effective timing will be set in final enrolled legislation.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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