Pennsylvania HB 2143: An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in sentencing, providing for animal abuse list.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2768
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2143
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY TOMLINSON, PROBST, CURRY, McNEILL, MARCELL,
SAPPEY, JAMES AND DOUGHERTY, JANUARY 14, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JANUARY 14, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in sentencing, providing
for animal abuse list.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 9778. Animal abuse list.
(a) Maintenance and posting.--Beginning January 1, 2027, the
Pennsylvania State Police shall maintain and post a list on a
publicly accessible Internet website that includes individuals
convicted on or after the effective date of this subsection of
an animal abuse offense.
(b) Identifying information.--
(1) The list shall include a photograph taken of the
individual convicted of an animal abuse offense as part of
the booking process, the individual's full legal name and
other identifying data as the Pennsylvania State Police
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determines is necessary to properly identify the individual
and to exclude innocent individuals.
(2) The list shall not include the individual's Social
Security number, driver's license number or any other Federal
or State identification number.
(c) Judgment.--A clerk of court shall forward a copy of the
judgment and date of birth of an individual convicted of an
animal abuse offense to the Pennsylvania State Police within 60
calendar days of the date of the judgment.
(d) Timing and removal.--
(1) Upon an individual's first conviction for an animal
abuse offense, the Pennsylvania State Police shall maintain
the individual's name and other identifying information, as
described under subsection (b), on the list for two years
following the date of conviction, after which time the
Pennsylvania State Police shall remove the individual's name
and identifying information from the list if the individual
is not convicted of another animal abuse offense during that
two-year period.
(2) Upon an individual's subsequent conviction for an
animal abuse offense, the Pennsylvania State Police shall
maintain the individual's name and other identifying
information, as described under subsection (b), on the list
for five years following the date of the most recent
conviction, after which time the Pennsylvania State Police
shall remove the individual's name and identifying
information from the list if the individual is not convicted
of another animal abuse offense during that five-year period.
(e) Expungement.--The Pennsylvania State Police shall remove
an individual's name and identifying information from the list
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if the offense for which the individual is included on the list
is expunged.
(f) Regulations.--The Pennsylvania State Police may
promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement this
section.
(g) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Animal." A companion animal or non-livestock animal.
"Animal abuse offense." An offense under 18 Pa.C.S. Ch. 55
Subch. B (relating to cruelty to animals).
"Companion animal." A dog or cat.
"Conviction." A judgment entered by a court upon a plea of
guilty, a plea of nolo contendere or a finding of guilt by a
jury or the court, notwithstanding any pending appeal or habeas
corpus proceeding arising from the judgment.
"List." The list maintained and posted by the Pennsylvania
State Police under subsection (a).
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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