Pennsylvania 2017-2018 Regular Session Status: In Committee 4 D cosponsors

SB 480 — An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in offenses against public order and decency, providing for the offense of attack on animal belonging to certain protected persons.

Last action — Laid on the table (Pursuant to Senate Rule 9)

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2017-2018 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

34 added · 63 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendments to Bill SB 480 clarify the existing law regarding animal cruelty by specifically addressing offenses that target pets belonging to individuals who are under protection from abuse or sexual violence. The revisions include clear definitions of the types of harm that constitute a misdemeanor, emphasizing the need for stronger protections for these vulnerable groups and their service animals. This change is important because it ensures that those who may be victims of abuse can feel safer with their pets, knowing that there are legal safeguards in place to protect both them and their animals from harm.

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PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.
PRINTER'S NO.
469 PRINTER'S NO.
469 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.
1550 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE BILL Session of No.
480 2017 INTRODUCED BY DINNIMAN, BREWSTER, TARTAGLIONE, KILLION, RAFFERTY, BOSCOLA, COSTA, BROWNE, FARNESE AND WARD, MARCH 1, 2017 REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, MARCH 1, 2017 AN ACT Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in offenses against public order and decency, further providing for the offense of cruelty to animals.
480 2017 INTRODUCED BY DINNIMAN, BREWSTER, TARTAGLIONE, KILLION, McGARRIGLE, MARCH 1, 2017 BROWNE, FARNESE, WARD, HAYWOOD AND SENATOR GREENLEAF, JUDICIARY, AS AMENDED, MARCH 19, 2018 AN ACT Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania <-- Consolidated Statutes, in offenses against public order and decency, further providing for the offense of cruelty to animals.
AMENDING TITLE 18 (CRIMES AND OFFENSES) OF THE PENNSYLVANIA <-- CONSOLIDATED STATUTES, IN OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND DECENCY, PROVIDING FOR THE OFFENSE OF ATTACK ON ANIMAL BELONGING TO CERTAIN PROTECTED PERSONS.
Section 5511(a) of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania <-- Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a paragraph to read:
Section 5511(a) of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a paragraph to read:
SECTION 1.
20170SB0480PN0469 - 2 -
TITLE 18 OF THE PENNSYLVANIA CONSOLIDATED <-- STATUTES IS AMENDED BY ADDING A SECTION TO READ:
§ 5535.1.
ATTACK ON ANIMAL BELONGING TO CERTAIN PROTECTED PERSONS.
(A) OFFENSE DEFINED.--A PERSON COMMITS AN OFFENSE IF ALL OF THE FOLLOWING APPLY:
(1) THE PERSON INTENTIONALLY, KNOWINGLY OR RECKLESSLY KILLS, MAIMS, DISFIGURES, TORTURES OR ADMINISTERS POISON OR EXPOSES A POISONOUS SUBSTANCE WITH INTENT TO ADMINISTER THE POISON OR POISONOUS SUBSTANCE TO ANY OF THE FOLLOWING THAT IS OWNED BY OR RESIDES WITH A PERSON PROTECTED BY AN ORDER ISSUED UNDER 23 PA.C.S.
CH.
61 (RELATING TO PROTECTION FROM ABUSE) OR 42 PA.C.S.
CH.
62A (RELATING TO PROTECTION OF VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE OR INTIMIDATION):
20170SB0480PN1550 - 2 - (I) A DOG OR CAT.
(II) A GUIDE DOG FOR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS BLIND.
(III) A HEARING DOG FOR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS DEAF OR AUDIBLY IMPAIRED.
(IV) A SERVICE DOG FOR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS PHYSICALLY LIMITED.
(2) THE PERSON COMMITTING THE VIOLATION UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) IS THE SUBJECT OF THE ORDER UNDER PARAGRAPH (1).
(B) GRADING.--A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION IS A FELONY OF THE THIRD DEGREE.
SECTION 2.
THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IN 60 DAYS.
20170SB0480PN1550 - 3 -
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Action History

  1. Laid on the table (Pursuant to Senate Rule 9)

  2. First consideration

  3. PN 1550 Reported as amended

  4. PN 0469 Referred to JUDICIARY

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 11 co-sponsors · 241 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

  • Dinniman

Co-sponsors (11)

Not signed on (241)

241 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 241 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Committee vote (JUDICIARY): Reported as Amended

Passed 15 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 11000
Democratic 2000
Republican 2000
Total 15000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
ALLOWAY — Yea
EICHELBERGER — Yea
FARNESE — Yea
GORDNER — Yea
LEACH — Yea
RAFFERTY — Yea
RESCHENTHALER — Yea
SABATINA — Yea
VULAKOVICH — Yea
GREENLEAF — Yea
SCARNATI — Yea
Art Haywood Democratic Yea
Lisa M. Boscola Democratic Yea
Gene Yaw Republican Yea
Wayne Langerholc Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights agriculture
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 480?
SB 480 is sponsored by Brewster, Killion, Rafferty, Lisa M. Boscola (Democratic), Browne, Dinniman, Farnese, Art Haywood (Democratic), Ward, Mcgarrigle, Christine M. Tartaglione (Democratic), and Jay Costa (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 480?
This bill died with 2017-2018 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 480?
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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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