- Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section, a person who, in good faith, reports a suspected incident of cruelty to animals, service animals, or certified police working dogs or police working horses, as described in section 18-9-202, to a local law enforcement agency or to the state bureau of animal protection is immune from civil liability for reporting the incident.
- The provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to a person who knowingly makes a false report of animal cruelty.
- [ Editor’s note: This version of subsection (3) is effective until March 1, 2022.] A person who knowingly makes a false report of animal cruelty to a local law enforcement agency or to the state bureau of animal protection commits a class 3 misdemeanor and shall be punished as provided in section 18-1.3-501.
(3) [ Editor’s note: This version of subsection (3) is effective March 1, 2022. ] A person who knowingly makes a false report of animal cruelty to a local law enforcement agency or to the state bureau of animal protection commits a civil infraction.
Source: L. 2005: Entire section added, p. 355, § 2, effective July 1. L. 2016: (1) amended, (HB 16-1348), ch. 236, p. 954, § 3, effective June 6. L. 2018: (1) amended, (HB 18-1041), ch. 19, p. 267, § 3, effective March 7. L. 2019: (1) amended, (HB 19-1180), ch. 75, p. 277, § 3, effective April 4. L. 2021: (3) amended, (SB 21-271), ch. 462, p. 3206, § 328, effective March 1, 2022.
Editor’s note: Section 803(2) of chapter 462 (SB 21-271), Session Laws of Colorado 2021, provides that the act changing this section applies to offenses committed on or after March 1, 2022.
Cross references: For the legislative declaration contained in the 2005 act enacting this section, see section 1 of chapter 102, Session Laws of Colorado 2005.