PRINTER'S NO.  650

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE BILL

 

No.

593

Session of

2009

  

  

INTRODUCED BY SIPTROTH, BRENNAN, CASORIO, FRANKEL, GEORGE, GOODMAN, GROVE, W. KELLER, KORTZ, KOTIK, MAHONEY, MELIO, MURT, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, READSHAW, SCAVELLO, K. SMITH, SWANGER, WALKO AND YOUNGBLOOD, FEBRUARY 24, 2009

  

  

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 24, 2009  

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

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Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the

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Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in particular rights and

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immunities, providing for immunity of humane society police

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officers.

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The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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hereby enacts as follows:

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Section 1.  Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated

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Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:

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§ 8332.9.  Immunity of humane society police officers.

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(a)  Status as public employees.--

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(1)  Humane society police officers shall be treated as

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if they were public employees as defined under section 8501

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(relating to definitions) in performance of their duties of

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investigation and enforcement of 18 Pa.C.S. § 5511(i) 

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(relating to cruelty to animals) as delegated by the laws of

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this Commonwealth.

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(2)  This action shall not be construed to reduce or

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eliminate any other immunity provided to humane society

 


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police officers by law.

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(b)  Immunity established.--A humane society police officer

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performing an investigation or enforcement of 18 Pa.C.S. § 5511 

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as delegated by the laws of this Commonwealth shall be immune

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from any civil action for damages brought by or on behalf of any

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person involved in the investigation or enforcement of 18

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Pa.C.S. § 5511.

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(c)  Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be

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construed to limit or otherwise affect or preclude liability

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resulting from gross negligence or intentional misconduct or

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reckless misconduct.

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(d)  Definitions.--The words and phrases in this section

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shall have the same meanings given to them in the act of

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December 7, 1982 (P.L.784, No.225), known as the Dog Law.

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

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