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| THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA |
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| SENATE BILL |
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| INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, ORIE, WAUGH AND FONTANA, JANUARY 12, 2011 |
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| REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS, JANUARY 12, 2011 |
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| AN ACT |
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1 | Amending the act of December 15, 1986 (P.L.1610, No.181), |
2 | entitled "An act providing for the establishment and |
3 | operation of a Statewide system for the prevention and |
4 | control of rabies; imposing additional powers and duties on |
5 | the Departments of Agriculture and Health; providing for |
6 | emergency declarations; fixing penalties for violations; and |
7 | making an appropriation," further providing for vaccination |
8 | required. |
9 | The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
10 | hereby enacts as follows: |
11 | Section 1. Section 8(a) and (d) of the act of December 15, |
12 | 1986 (P.L.1610, No.181), known as the Rabies Prevention and |
13 | Control in Domestic Animals and Wildlife Act, amended July 1, |
14 | 1987 (P.L.184, No.23), are amended and the section is amended by |
15 | adding a subsection to read: |
16 | Section 8. Vaccination required; certificate [and], tag and |
17 | exemption. |
18 | (a) Requirement.--[Every] Except as provided for in |
19 | subsection (f), every person living in this Commonwealth, owning |
20 | or keeping a dog or cat over three months of age, shall cause |
21 | that dog or cat to be vaccinated against rabies. Rabies vaccine |
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1 | shall be administered by a licensed veterinarian or under the |
2 | supervision of a licensed veterinarian. The Commonwealth shall |
3 | recognize the three-year rabies vaccine as the vaccine to be |
4 | used. Those animals vaccinated after one year of age shall get |
5 | booster vaccinations every three years thereafter. Those animals |
6 | vaccinated prior to one year of age will be considered protected |
7 | for only one year and shall receive a booster vaccination one |
8 | year later on the anniversary date of the original vaccination |
9 | and shall be vaccinated every three years thereafter. |
10 | * * * |
11 | (d) Enforcement.--[It shall be the duty of every] Every |
12 | police officer or State dog warden or the designated municipal |
13 | animal control officer [to] shall issue a citation to every |
14 | person who owns a dog or cat which is not vaccinated pursuant to |
15 | subsection (a) [or], (b) or (f). |
16 | * * * |
17 | (f) Exemption.-- |
18 | (1) An exemption from vaccination against rabies for a |
19 | dog or cat pursuant to subsection (a) may be granted if a |
20 | licensed veterinarian has examined the animal and determines |
21 | that it would be medically contraindicated to vaccinate the |
22 | animal due to an infirmity, other physical condition or |
23 | regimen of therapy. |
24 | (2) The department shall develop an exemption form which |
25 | must be completed and signed by the veterinarian and animal |
26 | owner. |
27 | (3) A rabies vaccination exemption shall be valid for a |
28 | period of up to one year after which the animal shall be re- |
29 | examined. At that time the animal shall either be vaccinated |
30 | against rabies or, if exemption status still applies, a new |
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1 | certificate of exemption shall be issued. |
2 | (4) The veterinarian shall maintain the signed exemption |
3 | as part of the animal's medical records and provide a copy to |
4 | the owner. |
5 | Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days. |
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