PRINTER'S NO. 168
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
176
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY RESCHENTHALER, BARTOLOTTA, FOLMER, SABATINA,
VULAKOVICH, VOGEL, BREWSTER, COSTA, WAGNER, HAYWOOD, KILLION,
LAUGHLIN, RAFFERTY, ALLOWAY AND BOSCOLA, JANUARY 25, 2017
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, JANUARY 25, 2017
AN ACT
Amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 23 (Domestic
Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in
riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, further
providing for the offense of cruelty to animals; and, in
child protective services, further providing for persons
required to report suspected child abuse.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 5511(q) of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a definition and the
section is amended by adding a subsection to read:
§ 5511. Cruelty to animals.
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(c.1) Mandatory reporting.--If a social services employee
forms a reasonable suspicion that an animal is the victim of
cruelty, the social services employee shall report the suspicion
to an agent of a society or association for the prevention of
cruelty to animals incorporated under the laws of this
Commonwealth.
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(q) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection:
* * *
"Social services employee." Any of the following providing
human services:
(1) An employee of the Commonwealth or a political
subdivision of the Commonwealth.
(2) An employee providing human services under contract
to the Commonwealth or a political subdivision of the
Commonwealth.
* * *
Section 2. Section 6311(a) of Title 23 is amended by adding
a paragraph to read:
§ 6311. Persons required to report suspected child abuse.
(a) Mandated reporters.--The following adults shall make a
report of suspected child abuse, subject to subsection (b), if
the person has reasonable cause to suspect that a child is a
victim of child abuse:
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(17) An animal control officer or humane society police
officer.
* * *
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20170SB0176PN0168 - 2 -
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