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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 9, 2017 12:51 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Chris Sainato |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Re-introduction of Legislation: To increase penalties on individuals convicted of animal cruelty ( Former HB 281). |
| In the near future, I plan to reintroduce legislation to increase penalties for individuals convicted of animal cruelty under Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. Currently, it is a summary offense for the first conviction and third degree misdemeanor for subsequent convictions of animal cruelty. This includes depriving an animal of shelter that protects them from inclement weather, preserves their body heat and keeps them dry. Winter can be a beautiful time of year. However, it can also be a dangerous one, as we have seen this winter with the brutally cold temperatures across Commonwealth. With the hope of preventing animals from being left out in extreme temperatures and weather, my legislation increases the penalty for the first conviction of animal cruelty to a third degree misdemeanor and penalties for second and subsequent violations to a second degree misdemeanor. My proposal also stipulates that, should exposure to extreme temperatures and/or weather result in the death of an animal, the penalty shall be graded as a first degree misdemeanor. Please join me in protecting the safety and well-being of animals throughout the Commonwealth. |
Introduced as HB246