SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Errant motorists, beware: Puppy hit-and-run could soon be a crime.

Pushing animal rights in a new direction, a state lawmaker has proposed slapping California motorists with a fine and possible jail time if they flee the scene after hitting a jaywalking dog, cat or any other pet or farm animal.

The measure by Democrat Mike Eng would require that drivers attempt to provide medical aid to an injured animal and notify the owner or animal-control authorities.

It is one of a herd of bills introduced in the Legislature this year that could test the boundaries of what constitutes humane treatment of animals in California.

One lawmaker wants to crack down on dogfighting. Another proposes a ban on docking (clipping or cutting) the tails of dairy cows.

A Republican hopes to make animal-adoption fees tax-deductible.

Democrats want to curb puppy mills and pet sales at flea markets — and make it illegal to let a cat older than 6 months run free unless it is spayed or neutered.

Eng said he wrote his bill out of respect for the central role pets can play in family life, noting that he got the idea from a constituent who lost a beloved family dog. He said he hopes to “start a dialogue” and set a precedent, alerting the motoring public that they bear responsibility for aiding an animal they’ve hit.

New York has a similar law, as do Germany and Singapore.

Eng finds it troubling that California makes it a misdemeanor crime to flee an accident involving property loss — a dented fender, a crushed mailbox, a run-down planter box — but there is no law against a hit-and-run involving a pet.

“You can only hit an animal and leave, and face no consequences,” Eng said. “An inanimate object has more rights.”