CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Nevada lawmakers are considering two bills that toughen the state's stance against cock fighting and revise the provisions governing the release of animal cruelty reporting data.
Democratic Sen. Mark Manendo of Las Vegas presented SB73 to the Senate Natural Resources Committee Thursday. The measure closes a loophole from a bill passed in the 2011 session that made animal cruelty a felony, but also inadvertently made all information relating to an investigation or incident confidential.
This bill changes the language to make the report public, with the exception of the reporting party's identity — if they wish to have it concealed.
The second bill presented stiffens state penalties for cock fighting by changing first offenses from misdemeanors to felonies.
Manendo says the current first offense penalties are trivial for cock fighters.
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