PRINTER'S NO. 1523
No. 1320 Session of 1989
INTRODUCED BY MERRY, MRKONIC, BOYES, VROON, SCHEETZ, ROBINSON,
FLICK, HALUSKA, DISTLER, BROUJOS, FARGO, JOHNSON, ROBBINS AND
TRELLO, APRIL 25, 1989
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS,
APRIL 25, 1989
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. Section 6(3) of the act of December 15, 1986
13 (P.L.1610, No.181), known as the Rabies Prevention and Control
14 in Domestic Animals and Wildlife Act, is amended to read:
15 Section 6. Powers and duties of department.
16 The department shall have the following powers and duties:
17 * * *
18 (3) [Institute] Declare regions of this Commonwealth
19 where the occurrence of rabies poses a grave health risk to
20 human and animal populations as designated risk areas and
1 institute the relevant actions outlined in this act, as well
2 as others determined by the department until it is determined
3 that the threat of the rabies epidemic no longer exists.
4 * * *
5 Section 2. Section 8(a) of the act, amended July 1, 1987
6 (P.L.184, No.23), is amended to read:
7 Section 8. Vaccination required; certificate and tag.
8 (a) Requirement.--Every person living in this Commonwealth,
9 owning or keeping a dog or cat over three months of age, shall,
10 in designated risk areas, cause that dog or cat to be vaccinated
11 against rabies. Rabies vaccine shall be administered by a
12 licensed veterinarian or under the supervision of a licensed
13 veterinarian. The Commonwealth shall recognize the three-year
14 rabies vaccine as the vaccine to be used. Those animals
15 vaccinated after one year of age shall get booster vaccinations
16 every three years thereafter. Those animals vaccinated prior to
17 one year of age will be considered protected for only one year
18 and shall receive a booster vaccination one year later on the
19 anniversary date of the original vaccination and shall be
20 vaccinated every three years thereafter.
21 * * *
22 Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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