PRINTER'S NO. 3493
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2149
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY HARHAI, W. KELLER, LONGIETTI, DAVIS, READSHAW,
DRISCOLL, BURNS, MILLARD, ENGLISH, HARKINS, DUNBAR, MAHONEY,
YOUNGBLOOD, ELLIS, O'BRIEN, WATSON, THOMAS, SAINATO AND
BOBACK, JUNE 9, 2016
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JUNE 9, 2016
AN ACT
Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, further providing for the offense of
cruelty to animals.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 5511(a)(1) and (2.1)(ii) of Title 18 of
the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:
ยง 5511. Cruelty to animals.
(a) Killing, maiming or poisoning domestic animals or zoo
animals, etc.--
(1) A person commits a misdemeanor of the second degree
if he willfully and maliciously:
(i) Kills, maims or disfigures any domestic animal
of another person or any domestic fowl of another person.
(ii) Administers poison to or exposes any poisonous
substance with the intent to administer such poison to
any domestic animal of another person or domestic fowl of
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another person.
(iii) Harasses, annoys, injures, attempts to injure,
molests or interferes with a dog guide for an individual
who is blind, a hearing dog for an individual who is deaf
or audibly impaired or a service dog for an individual
who is physically limited.
Any person convicted of violating the provisions of this
paragraph shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than
[$500] $1,000.
* * *
(2.1) * * *
(ii) Any person convicted of violating the
provisions of this paragraph shall be sentenced to pay a
fine of not less than [$1,000] $2,000 or to imprisonment
for not more than two years, or both. The court may also
order a presentence mental evaluation. A subsequent
conviction under this paragraph shall be a felony of the
third degree. This paragraph shall apply to dogs and cats
only.
* * *
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20160HB2149PN3493 - 2 -
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