PRINTER'S NO. 1558
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
1073
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY FARNESE, COLLETT, COSTA, BROWNE, BLAKE, KILLION
AND TARTAGLIONE, MARCH 5, 2020
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, MARCH 5, 2020
AN ACT
Amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 42 (Judiciary and
Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses,
providing for concurrent jurisdiction to prosecute and for
animal cruelty investigations manual; and, in budget and
finance, providing for Animal Cruelty Investigation Fund.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding sections to read:
§ 5562. Concurrent jurisdiction to prosecute.
In addition to the authority conferred upon the Attorney
General by the act of October 15, 1980 (P.L.950, No.164), known
as the Commonwealth Attorneys Act, the Attorney General may
investigate and institute criminal proceedings for a violation
of this subchapter if the Attorney General requests in writing
to prosecute a felony offense under this subchapter in a
criminal court or juvenile delinquency court and:
(1) the district attorney with jurisdiction accepts the
request in writing; or
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
(2) the district attorney fails to respond within 90
days, the Attorney General sends a subsequent request by
certified or registered mail to the district attorney and the
district attorney fails to respond within 10 days.
§ 5563. Animal cruelty investigations manual.
The Attorney General shall create an animal cruelty
investigations manual establishing the proper procedure for
animal cruelty investigation and prosecution in Pennsylvania,
including Pennsylvania's animal cruelty laws, rules of criminal
procedure, proper procedure for filing citations and warrants,
proper execution of search warrants, proper search and seizure
practices and resources for additional information in
prosecuting animal cruelty.
Section 2. Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 3576. Animal Cruelty Investigation Fund.
(a) Fund established.--The Animal Cruelty Investigation Fund
is established as a special fund in the State Treasury. Money in
the fund may only be used for purposes of animal cruelty
investigations, which include training, equipment and employment
expenses of humane society police officers and food, shelter and
veterinary costs for animals who are victims of animal cruelty.
Money in the fund and the interest accruing thereon are
appropriated to the Attorney General who may expend the fund
directly for training and equipping humane society police
officers, development of animal cruelty investigation materials,
salary and benefits for attorneys to prosecute and train other
prosecutors in animal cruelty cases and grants to animal
shelters to fund animal cruelty investigations or other expenses
permissible under this section.
20200SB1073PN1558 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
(b) Assessment.--In addition to any other costs that may be
imposed for a violation of 18 Pa.C.S. Ch. 55 Subch. B (relating
to cruelty to animals), an assessment of $5 shall be imposed.
Money collected shall be transmitted to the State Treasurer for
deposit in the fund.
(c) 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:
"Fund." The Animal Cruelty Investigation Fund.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20200SB1073PN1558 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10