PRINTER'S NO. 488
No. 450 Session of 1987
INTRODUCED BY MERRY, TRELLO, BOWSER, MRKONIC, NOYE, McCALL,
ROBBINS, CAPPABIANCA, FARGO, VEON, BLACK, HALUSKA, DISTLER,
WOZNIAK, HASAY, FLICK, JADLOWIEC, SIRIANNI, VROON, DORR,
HECKLER, BUNT, SCHEETZ AND BIRMELIN, FEBRUARY 25, 1987
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON GAME AND FISHERIES, FEBRUARY 25, 1987
AN ACT
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," providing for departmental
8 designation of rabies risk areas; and requiring vaccinations
9 within designated risk areas.
10 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
11 hereby enacts as follows:
12 Section 1. Sections 6(3) and 8(a) of the act of December 15,
13 1986 (P.L.1610, No.181), known as the Rabies Prevention and
14 Control in Domestic Animals and Wildlife Act, are amended to
15 read:
16 Section 6. Powers and duties of department.
17 The department shall have the following powers and duties:
18 * * *
19 (3) [Institute] Declare regions of this Commonwealth
20 where the occurrence of rabies poses a grave health risk to
1 human and animal populations as designated risk areas and
2 institute the relevant actions outlined in this act, as well
3 as others determined by the department until it is determined
4 that the threat of the rabies epidemic no longer exists.
5 * * *
6 Section 8. Vaccination required; certificate and tag.
7 (a) Requirement.--Every person living in this Commonwealth,
8 owning or keeping a dog or cat over three months of age, shall,
9 in designated risk areas, cause that dog or cat to be vaccinated
10 against rabies. Rabies vaccine shall be administered by a
11 licensed veterinarian or under the supervision of a licensed
12 veterinarian. The Commonwealth shall recognize the three-year
13 rabies vaccine as the vaccine to be used. Those animals
14 vaccinated after one year of age shall get booster vaccinations
15 every three years thereafter. Those animals vaccinated prior to
16 one year of age will be considered protected for only one year
17 and shall receive a booster vaccination one year later on the
18 anniversary date of the original vaccination and shall be
19 vaccinated every three years thereafter.
20 * * *
21 Section 2. This act shall be retroactive to February 11,
22 1987.
23 Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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