Legislation moving through the Alabama State House would make owners of dogs who severely injure or kill people subject to felony charges.

The bill is named after Emily Colvin, who was attacked and killed by five dogs in front of her home in Section in Jackson County in December. Colvin was 24.

Five members of Colvin's family were on hand today when House and Senate committees approved the bill, which is sponsored in the House by Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville. Ledbetter said the attack on Colvin happened a few miles from his home. Sen. Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro, is the Senate sponsor.

The attack on Colvin followed the death of Tracey Patterson Cornelius, 46, in Guntersville in November, also the result of an attack by dogs. Another woman was seriously injured by the dogs who killed Cornelius.

"We've lost two lives in north Alabama in the last couple of months due to dangerous dog attacks," Ledbetter said.

Barry Matson, executive director of the Alabama District Attorneys Association, said the bill also adds a civil remedy for dealing with dangerous dogs.

If there is probable cause to believe that a dog has injured or killed a person without provocation, a law enforcement or animal control officer would impound the dog. A county attorney or city attorney could then petition the district court or municipal court to declare the dog dangerous. The owner of the dog would be responsible for the cost of care while the dog is impounded.

If a judge finds that a dog is dangerous and has caused serious physical injury or death to a person, the judge would order the dog to be euthanized.

State law defines a serious physical injury as one "which creates a substantial risk of death, or which causes serious and protracted disfigurement, protracted impairment of health, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily organ."

If a judge determines that a dog is dangerous but has not seriously injured a person, the judge could order the dog to be euthanized or returned to the owner under conditions.

Among those conditions, the owner would have to keep the dog in a locked enclosure with a top, pay an annual fee to register the dog and post a $100,000 surety bond to cover medical or veterinary costs resulting from an attack by the dog.

The bill also includes some hefty criminal penalties.

If a dog that has been declared dangerous by a court later causes a serious injury or death to a person without provocation, the owner could be charged with a Class B felony, which is punishable by two to 20 years.

If a dog that has not been declared dangerous causes a serious injury or death and the owner knew and recklessly disregarded the dog's dangerous tendencies, the owner could be charged with a Class C felony, punishable by one to 10 years.

"I think the message we've got to send to people across the state, if they're going to have those type dogs, they need to take care of them," Ledbetter said. "And they need to be responsible for them so they don't hurt their family or their neighbors. And hopefully, with putting these penalties on this bill, that will take place."

The bill does not mention any specific dog breeds.

This story was edited at 9:20 p.m. to clarify that felony penalties would apply if the dog caused a serious physical injury and to add legal definition of a serious physical injury.