PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 469
PRINTER'S NO. 1550
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
480
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY DINNIMAN, BREWSTER, TARTAGLIONE, KILLION,
RAFFERTY, BOSCOLA, COSTA, BROWNE, FARNESE, WARD, HAYWOOD AND
McGARRIGLE, MARCH 1, 2017
SENATOR GREENLEAF, JUDICIARY, AS AMENDED, MARCH 19, 2018
AN ACT
Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in offenses against public order and
decency, further providing for the offense of cruelty to
animals.
AMENDING TITLE 18 (CRIMES AND OFFENSES) OF THE PENNSYLVANIA
CONSOLIDATED STATUTES, IN OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND
DECENCY, PROVIDING FOR THE OFFENSE OF ATTACK ON ANIMAL
BELONGING TO CERTAIN PROTECTED PERSONS.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 5511(a) of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a paragraph to read:
§ 5511. Cruelty to animals.
(a) Killing, maiming or poisoning domestic animals or zoo
animals, etc.--
* * *
(1.1) (i) A person commits a misdemeanor of the first
degree if he willfully and maliciously kills, maims,
disfigures, tortures or administers poison to or exposes
any poisonous substance with intent to administer such
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poison or poisonous substance to a dog or cat, guide dog
for an individual who is blind, hearing dog for an
individual who is deaf or audibly impaired or service dog
for an individual who is physically limited that belongs
to or resides with a person protected by an order issued
under 23 Pa.C.S. Ch. 61 (relating to protection from
abuse) or 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 62A (relating to protection of
victims of sexual violence or intimidation) and the
person committing the violation is the subject of the
order.
(ii) Any person convicted of violating this
paragraph shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less
than $2,000 and not more than $15,000 or to imprisonment
for not more than two years, or both.
* * *
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
SECTION 1. TITLE 18 OF THE PENNSYLVANIA CONSOLIDATED
STATUTES IS AMENDED BY ADDING A SECTION TO READ:
§ 5535.1. ATTACK ON ANIMAL BELONGING TO CERTAIN PROTECTED
PERSONS.
(A) OFFENSE DEFINED.--A PERSON COMMITS AN OFFENSE IF ALL OF
THE FOLLOWING APPLY:
(1) THE PERSON INTENTIONALLY, KNOWINGLY OR RECKLESSLY
KILLS, MAIMS, DISFIGURES, TORTURES OR ADMINISTERS POISON OR
EXPOSES A POISONOUS SUBSTANCE WITH INTENT TO ADMINISTER THE
POISON OR POISONOUS SUBSTANCE TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING THAT IS
OWNED BY OR RESIDES WITH A PERSON PROTECTED BY AN ORDER
ISSUED UNDER 23 PA.C.S. CH. 61 (RELATING TO PROTECTION FROM
ABUSE) OR 42 PA.C.S. CH. 62A (RELATING TO PROTECTION OF
VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE OR INTIMIDATION):
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(I) A DOG OR CAT.
(II) A GUIDE DOG FOR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS BLIND.
(III) A HEARING DOG FOR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS DEAF OR
AUDIBLY IMPAIRED.
(IV) A SERVICE DOG FOR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS
PHYSICALLY LIMITED.
(2) THE PERSON COMMITTING THE VIOLATION UNDER PARAGRAPH
(1) IS THE SUBJECT OF THE ORDER UNDER PARAGRAPH (1).
(B) GRADING.--A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION IS A FELONY OF THE
THIRD DEGREE.
SECTION 2. THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IN 60 DAYS.
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