PRINTER'S NO. 389
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
351
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY READSHAW, D. COSTA, KORTZ, DEASY, BIZZARRO,
KINSEY, SCHREIBER, W. KELLER, SAINATO, FLYNN, PASHINSKI,
McNEILL, O'BRIEN, THOMAS, WATSON, MATZIE, RAVENSTAHL, HARHAI,
GOODMAN, DeLUCA, MURT, CARROLL, CONKLIN, COHEN, ROEBUCK,
GIBBONS AND MAHONEY, FEBRUARY 9, 2015
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 9, 2015
AN ACT
Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in further judicial
action, 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 10 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 10 days after moving to the new location
in this Commonwealth.
(b) Information required.--
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(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 of 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:
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(i) Forwarding all registration information to the
Pennsylvania State Police.
(ii) Within 10 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 one-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 18 years of age or older 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.
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