Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that increases penalties for people who knowingly release feral hogs into the wild.

Highlights:

• Establishes it is lawful for any person on whose premises a domestic swine is found to restrain it, and give the owner, if known, notice in writing that such person has restrained said swine, and the amount of damages such person claims in the premises, and requires the owner to take said swine away and pay such damages; and the owner will pay a reasonable sum for taking up, feeding and caring for the same, and the actual damages done by said swine (Sec. 2.A).

• Authorizes an associate circuit judge, who is satisfied that the provisions of this law have been complied with, to order the same to be sold by the sheriff after the expiration of fifteen days, who will give notice and sell the same in the same manner as personal property may be sold on execution by a sheriff; and after paying the costs of sale, and of taking up and keeping the swine, and all damages done by the same, such sheriff will pay the balance, if there be any, over to the county treasurer, and take a receipt therefor; which balance will be subject to the order of the owner of such swine, if called for within twelve months after the sale, but if not called for, the same will be turned over to the school fund of the county (Sec. 2-2).

• Defines "feral swine" as any swine that is born, living, or has lived in the wild, and the offspring of such swine. For purposes of this subdivision, "in the wild" means not confined by humans to pens, houses, or other facilities designed to hold swine and prevent their escape (Sec. 2-1).

• Authorizes a person to kill a feral swine roaming freely upon a person's land and they will not be liable to the owner of the swine for the loss of the swine (Sec. 2-2).

• Authorizes any person to take or kill a feral swine on public land or private land with the consent of the public landowner or the private landowner; except that, during the firearms deer and turkey hunting season, the regulations of the Missouri wildlife code will apply. Such a person will not be liable to the owner of the swine for the loss of such swine (Sec. 2-3).

• Prohibits a person except a landowner or such landowner's agent on such landowner's property from taking, attempting to take, or killing a feral swine with the use of an artificial light (Sec. 2-4).

• Establishes any person who violates subsection 3 or 4 of this law is guilty of a class A misdemeanor (Sec. 2-5).

Full Bill Text