https://legiscan.com/TX/text/SB155/id/3026310
Please email the Criminal Justice Committee members. Pete.Flores@senate.texas.gov; Tan.Parker@senate.texas.gov; Brett.Hagenbuch@senate.texas.gov; Juan.Hinojosa@senate.texas.gov; Joan.Huffman@senate.texas.gov; Phil.King@senate.texas.gov; Borris.Miles@senate.texas.gov; jenna.lewis@senate.texas.gov
Example Letter
Dear Criminal Justice Comm. Members,
Regarding SB 155 (and companion HB 2806) –
If passed, SB 155 could charge a dog owner with a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to
180 days in JAIL and a $2000 fine for no other reason than your playful puppy pushes someone,
scratches someone, or nips someone even in play.
This bill criminalizes even the most trivial touching by a dog which punishes the owner for something very slight.
CERTAINLY NOT TRULY DANGEROUS.
Needless over-reach.
Bodily injury as defined in SB 155 is any injury that is not deemed serious, and can include a nip or scratch
that does not even need a Bandaid, and not even one stitch.
This means every dog owner is Texas can be subject to jail for the most miniscule thing their dog did,
and that includes a playful puppy.
ALSO, this bill would provide that people who file sworn statements about a dog being dangerous are done in secret.
This clearly does not provide the accused owner the ability to confront the accuser and is unconstitutional because
it does away with due process for crimes against owners for what a dog does, even a tiny nip.
Current law already allows for prosecution if a dog causes SERIOUS bodily injury and was out with criminal negligence.
I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST MEMBERS OPPOSE SB 155.
