SENATE DOCKET, NO. 796 FILED ON: 2/8/2021
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1111
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Michael O. Moore
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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 relative to the ownership of pets by convicted animal abusers.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: |
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Michael O. Moore | Second Worcester |
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Steven G. Xiarhos | 5th Barnstable | 2/18/2021 |
Jack Patrick Lewis | 7th Middlesex | 2/24/2021 |
Jessica Ann Giannino | 16th Suffolk | 3/1/2021 |
Adam J. Scanlon | 14th Bristol | 3/1/2021 |
James K. Hawkins | 2nd Bristol | 3/1/2021 |
John C. Velis | Second Hampden and Hampshire | 3/1/2021 |
John F. Keenan | Norfolk and Plymouth | 3/1/2021 |
Jason M. Lewis | Fifth Middlesex | 3/11/2021 |
Mark C. Montigny | Second Bristol and Plymouth | 3/11/2021 |
Brendan P. Crighton | Third Essex | 3/11/2021 |
Paul K. Frost | 7th Worcester | 3/11/2021 |
Hannah Kane | 11th Worcester | 3/16/2021 |
Patrick M. O'Connor | Plymouth and Norfolk | 3/24/2021 |
Bruce E. Tarr | First Essex and Middlesex | 3/24/2021 |
Thomas M. Stanley | 9th Middlesex | 4/6/2021 |
Sal N. DiDomenico | Middlesex and Suffolk | 4/6/2021 |
Tami L. Gouveia | 14th Middlesex | 6/9/2021 |
Walter F. Timilty | Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth | 6/9/2021 |
Julian Cyr | Cape and Islands | 6/9/2021 |
Adam Gomez | Hampden | 6/9/2021 |
Joanne M. Comerford | Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester | 7/12/2021 |
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 796 FILED ON: 2/8/2021
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1111
By Mr. Moore, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1111) of Michael O. Moore, Steven G. Xiarhos, Jack Patrick Lewis, Jessica Ann Giannino and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to the ownership of pets by convicted animal abusers. The Judiciary. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)
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An Act relative to the ownership of pets by convicted 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:
SECTION 1. Section 35WW of chapter 10 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the figure “62”, in line 17, the following words:- , fines collected pursuant to section 37 of chapter 129.
SECTION 2. Section 37 of chapter 129 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting after the fourth sentence the following sentence:- A fine assessed under this section shall be deposited into the Homeless Animal Prevention and Care Fund established in section 35WW of chapter 10.
SECTION 3. Section 77 of chapter 272 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-
A person convicted of a violation of this section or of sections 77A, 77C, 80 ½, 94 or 95 shall not harbor, own, possess, exercise control over, adopt, or foster an animal for any length of time that the court deems reasonable for the protection of all animals; provided, however, that the length of time shall not be less than 5 years after the person’s release from custody. Any person found in violation of an order incorporating the provisions of this paragraph may, in addition to any other punishment provided by law, be fined in an amount not exceeding $1,000 for each animal held in unlawful ownership or possession and shall forfeit custody of any animal involved in a violation of this paragraph to the custody of an entity incorporated under the laws of the commonwealth for the prevention of cruelty to animals or for the care and protection of homeless or suffering animals.