Monday, August 11, 2014
Animal Abuse Bill on the Move
Senate Bill 2345, An Act ProtectingAnimal Welfare and Safety, moved one step closer to final passage today, as the
Senate concurred with a technical amendment the House made to the bill on the
last day of formal sessions July 31st.
The latest bill reflects many of
the elements contained in the original PAWS Act (Senate Bill 1914), which I
filed in October of 2013 with the support of 75 legislative co-sponsors. Passage
of this animal protection bill has been one of my top priorities for the
2013-2014 legislative session.
Like the
original PAWS Act, Senate Bill 2345 provides for increased fines and jail time
for individuals who maim, injure or kill an animal, and carries additional
penalties for repeat offenders. It also
requires veterinarians to report suspected cases of animal cruelty, while
creating a special taskforce of experts in law enforcement, animal protection,
veterinary, legal professionals, and industry professionals to review methods
to prevent animal abuse and punish those who commit these crimes.
If the House
and Senate enact the bill on Thursday, Senate Bill 2345 could be on the
Governor’s desk before the end of the week.
