PRINTER'S NO. 68
No. 64 Session of 1985
INTRODUCED BY LLOYD, PRATT, SEVENTY, HERMAN, PISTELLA,
D. R. WRIGHT, CAWLEY, BLAUM, McVERRY, COLAFELLA, WOGAN,
PERZEL, BALDWIN, PRESTON, MORRIS, BELARDI, RYBAK, BATTISTO
AND MICHLOVIC, JANUARY 23, 1985
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JANUARY 23, 1985
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, providing for an offense resulting
3 from an attack by a wild animal.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
7 Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
8 § 2711. Attack by wild animals harbored by persons.
9 (a) Offense defined.--A person owning, possessing or
10 harboring a wild animal who fails to exercise due care in
11 safeguarding the public from attack by it or who recklessly
12 engages in conduct which places or may place another person in
13 danger of attack by the wild animal commits a misdemeanor of the
14 second degree.
15 (b) Previous attacks.--In the prosecution of an alleged
16 offense under this section, it is not necessary to prove
17 previous attacks upon a human being by the wild animal or
1 knowledge of the vicious propensities of the wild animal on the
2 part of the owner, possessor or harborer. The fact that the wild
3 animal has not previously attacked a human being or the lack of
4 knowledge of the vicious propensities of the wild animal on the
5 part of the owner, possessor or harborer is not a defense to a
6 prosecution under this section.
7 (c) Definition.--As used in this section the term "wild
8 animal" includes bears, coyotes, lions, tigers, leopards,
9 jaguars, cheetahs, cougars, wolves and any crossbreed of these
10 animals which has characteristics similar to these animals.
11 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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