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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1164 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2022
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:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Bruce J. Ayers1st Norfolk1/18/2023Michelle M. DuBois10th Plymouth2/22/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1164 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2022
By Representative Ayers of Quincy, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2022) of Bruce
J. Ayers and Michelle M. DuBois relative to increasing the fines for cruelty to animals and
establishing a fund dedicated to improvements for local animal shelters. Municipalities and
Regional Government.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2132 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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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:
1 SECTION 1. Section 77 of Chapter 272 of the General Laws is hereby amended by
2striking out the figure “$5,000” and inserting in place thereof the figure “$5,500”; Section 77 is
3further amended by striking the figure “$10,000” and inserting in place thereof the figure
4“$11,000”
5 SECTION 2. No more than $500 from a single fine incurred for a first offense, and no
6more than $1,000 from a single fine incurred for subsequent offenses, shall be designated
7towards a special account in the municipality where the violation occurred. 2 of 2
8 The monies shall be used solely for funding improvements to the local municipality’s
9animal shelter. Funds designated towards municipalities without an animal shelter within their
10jurisdiction will be utilized at the discretion of the local municipality, providing it benefits local
11groups, nonprofit organizations, or public entities dedicated to the humane treatment of animals
12and/or the promotion of the adoption of shelter animals.