Amendment ID: S3014-19

Amendment 19

Task force to complete a systematic review of the laws pertaining to animal cruelty and protection

Mr. Tarr and Ms. Edwards move that the proposed new draft be amended by inserting after section _ the following section:-

"SECTION _.  (a) There shall be a task force established to complete a systematic review of the laws pertaining to animal cruelty and protection. The task force shall consist of: the attorney general or a designee; the president of the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association or a designee; the colonel of the state police or a designee; the commissioner of agricultural resources or a designee; a representative from the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; a representative from the Animal Rescue League of Boston; a representative from the Massachusetts Bar Association; a representative of the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council; and 2 persons appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be an animal control officer or representative of an association organized in the commonwealth for animal control officers and 1 of whom shall be a veterinarian or member of a veterinary medical association organized in the commonwealth. The members of the task force shall appoint a chair.

(b)  The task force shall:

(i)  assess the adequacy, effectiveness and necessity of laws pertaining to animal cruelty and protection including, but not limited to, the laws pertaining to the protection of animals contained in chapters 266 and 272 of the General Laws and the duties of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Animal Rescue League of Boston under chapter 129 of the General Laws, the process of charging for animal cruelty and the issuing of citations under section 174E of chapter 140 of the General Laws;

(ii)  identify and review the existing services, facilities and funding to meet the needs of animals seized in cruelty cases and explore interagency options for coordination and funding to care for these animals;

(iii)  evaluate approaches and offer recommendations for education and training opportunities for law enforcement, animal control officers, judges, veterinarians and other professionals including, but not limited to, methods to identify animal abuse, the link between domestic violence and animal abuse and animal hoarding;

(iv)  examine the feasibility and effectiveness of participating in a national animal abuse registry or other similar registry, if created;

(v)  examine existing methods to report animal abuse and explore additional mechanisms, if needed, and ways to promote these reporting mechanisms;

(vi)  recommend ways to develop and promulgate educational materials to children to educate them about animal abuse; and

(vii)  assess the impact of housing issues including, but not limited to, homeowners insurance and abandonment in vacated housing, on the surrender or abandonment of animals.

(c)  The task force shall submit a report of its findings and legislative recommendations to the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives and the chairs of the joint committee on the judiciary not later than 18 months after the effective date of this act. The task force shall determine if subsequent reports shall be necessary to properly address animal cruelty and protection.