HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 747        FILED ON: 1/14/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1423

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Louis L. Kafka

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act establishing a public registry of animal abusers.

_______________

PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 747        FILED ON: 1/14/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1423

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1416 OF 2013-2014.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

_______________

An Act establishing a public registry of animal abusers.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 272 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after Section 77B, the following section:

Section 77C: Animal Abuser Registry

The animal abuser registry board, known as the board, in cooperation with the criminal history systems board, shall establish and maintain a central computerized registry of all animal abusers required to register known as the animal abuser registry. The animal abuser registry shall be updated based on information made available to the board.

1. For purposes of this section, an “animal abuser” means a person over eighteen years of age who has been convicted of a felony violation of Chapter 272: Section 77, Chapter 272: Section 104, Chapter 272: Section 29C, Chapter 272: Section 89, of this state or of the comparable statutes of another state.

2. Any animal abuser physically within the boundaries of this state for more than ten consecutive days shall register with the county sheriff for the county in which the animal abuser is located before the end of the eleventh day in the state.

3. Any previously registered animal abuser shall reregister with the county sheriff for the county in which the animal abuser is located no later than ten days after moving to a new location within the state.

The file on each animal cruelty offender required to register shall include the following information, hereinafter referred to as registration data:

(a) The legal name and any other names or aliases that the animal abuser is using or has used;

(b) The date of birth of the animal abuser;

(c) The current address or location of the animal abuser;

(d)The place of employment of the animal abuser;

(e) The animal protection offense for which the animal abuser was convicted; and the date and place of the animal protection offense conviction of the animal abuser.

2.When an animal abuser registers with a county sheriff, the sheriff shall obtain:

(a) A photograph of the animal abuser and a complete set of the animal abuser’s fingerprints; and

(b) A description of any tattoos, scars or other distinguishing features on the animal abuser’s body that would assist in identifying the animal abuser.

3.Following an animal abuser’s initial registration pursuant to the provisions of this section, an animal abuser shall annually renew the animal abuser’s registration with the county sheriff prior to December 31 of each subsequent calendar year for a period of fifteen years.

4.An animal abuser who intentionally or knowingly fails to comply with the registration requirements, or provides false information when complying with the registration requirements set forth in this section, is guilty of a felony.

5.Each county sheriff shall maintain a local registry of animal abusers in the sheriff’s jurisdiction required to register pursuant to this section.

(a) The county sheriff shall forward all registration information obtained from animal abusers to the State Department of Justice.

(b) Within ten days of receiving initial registration information from an animal abuser, the county sheriff shall contact every residence, school, humane society, animal shelter and any other business within a half mile radius of the animal abuser’s residence or location and provide them with the animal abuser’s registration information, with the exception of the animal abuser’s social security number.

6.The State Department of Justice shall maintain a central registry of animal abusers required to register pursuant to the provisions of this section. The central registry of animal abusers shall be made available to the public through internet access, telephone access, and written access and in person access. All of the information contained in an animal abuser’s registration, with the exception of the animal abuser’s social security number, shall be made available. Records of each animal abuser’s registration shall be maintained for the duration of the fifteen year period in which the animal abuser is required to be registered.