HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1164        FILED ON: 1/18/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2022

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Bruce J. Ayers

_________________

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 further increasing the fines for cruelty to animals, and establishing a fund dedicated to improvements for local animal shelters.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Bruce J. Ayers

1st Norfolk

1/18/2023

Michelle M. DuBois

10th Plymouth

2/22/2023


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1164        FILED ON: 1/18/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2022

By Representative Ayers of Quincy, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2022) of Bruce J. Ayers and Michelle M. DuBois relative to increasing the fines for cruelty to animals and establishing a fund dedicated to improvements for local animal shelters.  Municipalities and Regional Government.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2132 OF 2021-2022.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

_______________

 

An Act relative to further increasing the fines for cruelty to animals, and establishing a fund dedicated to improvements for local animal shelters.

 

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 77 of Chapter 272 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the figure “$5,000” and inserting in place thereof the figure “$5,500”; Section 77 is further amended by striking the figure “$10,000” and inserting in place thereof the figure “$11,000”

SECTION 2. No more than $500 from a single fine incurred for a first offense, and no more than $1,000 from a single fine incurred for subsequent offenses, shall be designated towards a special account in the municipality where the violation occurred.

The monies shall be used solely for funding improvements to the local municipality’s animal shelter. Funds designated towards municipalities without an animal shelter within their jurisdiction will be utilized at the discretion of the local municipality, providing it benefits local groups, nonprofit organizations, or public entities dedicated to the humane treatment of animals and/or the promotion of the adoption of shelter animals.