THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY READSHAW, PETRARCA, DEASY, SAINATO, BUXTON, CARROLL, D. COSTA, DeLUCA, FABRIZIO, GIBBONS, HARHAI, KAVULICH, KORTZ, MAHONEY, MANN, MOUL, MURPHY, M. O'BRIEN, PASHINSKI, SCAVELLO, SCHRODER, STABACK, WATSON, WHITE, YOUNGBLOOD, FREEMAN AND BISHOP, FEBRUARY 1, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 1, 2011  

AN ACT

Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the

Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for animal

abuser registry.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

is amended by adding a section to read:

§ 9778.  Animal abuser registry.

(a)  Registration required.--An animal abuser located within

the boundaries of this Commonwealth for more than ten days shall

register with the county sheriff for the county in which the

animal abuser is located before the end of the 11th day. A

previously registered animal abuser shall reregister with the

county sheriff for the county in which the animal abuser is now

located no later than ten days after moving to the new location

in this Commonwealth.

(b)  Information required.--

(1)  The animal abuser shall provide the county sheriff

with the following information:

(i)  Legal name and any other names or aliases that

he or she uses or has used.

(ii)  Date of birth.

(iii)  Social Security number.

(iv)  Current address or location.

(v)  Place of employment.

(vi)  The felony offense he or she was convicted of

and the date and location of the offense.

(2)  The sheriff shall obtain the following from the

animal abuser:

(i)  A photograph of the animal abuser and a complete

set of his or her fingerprints.

(ii)  A description of any tattoos, scars or other

distinguishing features on his or her body that would

assist in identifying the animal abuser.

(3)  Following the initial registration under this

section, an animal abuser shall annually renew the

registration with the county sheriff prior to December 31 of

each subsequent calendar year for a period of 15 years.

(c)  Penalties.--An animal abuser who intentionally or

knowingly fails to comply with the registration requirements of

this section or who provides false information when complying

with the registration requirements of this section is guilty of

a felony in the third degree.

(d)  Central and local registries.--

(1)  The county sheriff shall maintain a local registry

of animal abusers in the sheriff's jurisdiction. The sheriff

shall be responsible for the following:

(i)  Forwarding all registration information to the

Pennsylvania State Police.

(ii)  Within ten days of receiving an initial

registration from an animal abuser, the county sheriff

shall contact every residence, school, humane society,

animal shelter and any other business within a half mile

radius of the animal abuser's residence or location and

provide them with the animal abuser's registration

information except for the Social Security number.

(2)  The Pennsylvania State Police shall maintain a

central registry of animal abusers required to register under

this section. The central registry of animal abusers shall be

made available to the public through the Internet and

telephone, by written access and in person. All of the

information contained in an animal abuser's registration,

with the exception of the Social Security number or any other

information protected by law, shall be made available to the

public. Records of each registration shall be maintained for

the 15-year period that the animal abuser is required to be

registered.

(e)  Definitions.--As used in this section, the following

words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this

subsection:

"Animal abuser."  An individual over 18 years of age who has

been convicted of a felony violation of 18 Pa.C.S. § 5511

(relating to cruelty to animals), 5511.2 (relating to police

animals) or 5511.3 (relating to assault with a biological agent

on animal, fowl or honey bees) or any other felony violation of

a statute protecting animal welfare.

Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.