HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2156        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Bruce J. Ayers

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

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2156        FILED ON: 1/15/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2022 OF 2023-2024.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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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.