General Assembly Analysis: Cats Out of the Bag

As a well informed electorate is best equipped for self governance, we here at The Virginian Federalist will continue reviewing bills you haven’t heard of in a series we call General Assembly Analysis.

HB 334 and HB 334H1 need no separate commentary. Delegate Jennifer McClellan (D-71) introduce the bill, but it FAILED in the Appropriations Committee by an 11 to 13 vote. The additions to the Code of Virginia that would have been made by HB 334 are in red. The additions that would have been made by HB 334H1, a substitute bill, are in orange. The full text is as follows:

A BILL to amend and reenact § 18.2-97 of the Code of Virginia, relating to larceny of certain animals; penalty.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 18.2-97 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 18.2-97. Larceny of certain animals and poultry.
A. Any person who shall be guilty of the larceny of a dog, cat, horse, pony, mule, cow, steer, bull or calf shall be guilty of a Class 5 felony; and any person who shall be guilty of the larceny of any poultry of the value of $5 dollars or more, but of the value of less than $200, or of a sheep, lamb, swine, or goat, of the value of less than $200, shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony.
B. Any person who commits larceny of a companion cat shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony. For the purposes of this subsection, a companion cat is a domesticated feline that is owned by an individual, animal shelter, or an animal rescue organization that provides food and shelter to it.
2. That the provisions of this act may result in a net increase in periods of imprisonment or commitment. Pursuant to § 30-19.1:4, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of imprisonment in state adult correctional facilities and is $0 for periods of commitment to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.