Topeka ? A bill increasing oversight for owners of dangerous creatures and another measure strengthening penalties for intentional cruelty to animals went Friday to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

One bill requires owners of exotic animals to keep them confined so they can’t come in contact with people and makes it illegal to allow such animals to “run at large.” It would be illegal after Oct. 1 to own a dangerous animal without having a U.S. Department of Agriculture license, and owners would have to carry $250,000 worth of liability insurance.

The definition of dangerous animal would include bears, lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, mountain lions or hybrids of those animals, and venomous snakes not native to Kansas. The bill wouldn’t apply to accredited zoos or wildlife sanctuaries.

The legislation was prompted by the August 2005 death of Haley Hilderbrand, 17, a Labette County High School senior who was bitten by a Siberian tiger while posing next to it for a class photo at the Lost Creek Animal Sanctuary in Mound Valley, southwest of Parsons.

The Senate approved the measure two weeks ago but had to consider amendments the House made before approving the bill Thursday. The Senate voted 38-2 on Friday to accept the changes, sending the bill to Sebelius.

The final version of the other bill was drafted by negotiators from the two chambers. It makes the deliberate killing, maiming or torturing of animals a felony.

Those convicted would serve at least 30 days in jail and pay a fine from $500 to $5,000. In jail, they must have a psychological evaluation and complete an anger management course.

Unintentionally neglecting an animal would remain a misdemeanor, although a second conviction would mean a minimum of five days in jail. The bill doesn’t apply to the extermination of insects, rats or other pests or the slaughter of livestock.

The House approved the compromise Thursday, 116-7, followed a day later by the Senate’s 40-0 vote.