PRINTER'S NO. 239
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.295
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY BIZZARRO, McNEILL, SHUSTERMAN, HILL-EVANS, PIELLI,
SANCHEZ, KENYATTA, CERRATO, KHAN, GIRAL, HOHENSTEIN, DONAHUE,
SCHLOSSBERG, HOWARD, DALEY, GREEN AND MADDEN,
JANUARY 23, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS,
JANUARY 23, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of December 7, 1982 (P.L.784, No.225), entitled
"An act relating to dogs, regulating the keeping of dogs;
providing for the licensing of dogs and kennels; providing
for the protection of dogs and the detention and destruction
of dogs in certain cases; regulating the sale and
transportation of dogs; declaring dogs to be personal
property and the subject of theft; providing for the
abandonment of animals; providing for the assessment of
damages done to animals; providing for payment of damages by
the Commonwealth in certain cases and the liability of the
owner or keeper of dogs for such damages; imposing powers and
duties on certain State and local officers and employees;
providing penalties; and creating a Dog Law Restricted
Account," in licenses, tags and kennels, further providing
for revocation or refusal of kennel licenses and providing
for prohibition on sale of dogs bred by certain persons ; and,
in enforcement and penalties, providing for whistleblower
protection.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 211(a) introductory paragraph of the act
of December 7, 1982 (P.L.784, No.225), known as the Dog Law,
amended July 8, 2024 (P.L.527, No.47), is amended to read:
Section 211. Revocation or refusal of kennel licenses.
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24 (a) General powers of secretary.--The secretary shall revoke
a kennel license, dealer license or out-of-state dealer license
if a licensee is convicted of a violation of 18 Pa.C.S. § 3129
(relating to sexual intercourse with animal), 5532 (relating to
neglect of animal) if graded as a misdemeanor or higher, 5533
(relating to cruelty to animal) if graded as a misdemeanor or
higher, 5534 (relating to aggravated cruelty to animal), 5535
(relating to attack of service, guide or support dog), 5542
(relating to animal mutilation and related offenses) if graded
as a misdemeanor or higher, 5543 (relating to animal fighting),
5544 (relating to possession of animal fighting paraphernalia),
5548 (relating to police animals) or 5549 (relating to assault
with a biological agent on animal, fowl or honey bees) or of
substantially similar conduct pursuant to 7 U.S.C. Ch. 54
(relating to transportation, sale, and handling of certain
animals) , 18 U.S.C. § 48 (relating to animal crushing) or a
cruelty law of another state. The secretary shall not issue a
kennel license, dealer license or out-of-state dealer license to
a person that has been convicted of a violation of 18 Pa.C.S. §
3129, 5532 if graded as a misdemeanor or higher, 5533 if graded
as a misdemeanor or higher, 5534, 5535, 5542 if graded as a
misdemeanor or higher, 5543, 5544, 5548 or 5549 within the last
ten years. The secretary may revoke or refuse to issue a kennel
license, dealer license or out-of-state dealer license for any
one or more of the following reasons:
* * *
Section 2. The act is amended by adding sections to read:
Section 222. Prohibition on sale of dogs bred by certain
persons.
Notwithstanding the provisions of section 908, a dealer or
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30 kennel may not sell or offer for sale, including a sale for
research purposes, a dog bred by a person who has received any
of the following from the United States Department of
Agriculture as authorized under 7 U.S.C. Ch. 54 (relating to
transportation, sale, and handling of certain animals) and its
attendant regulations :
(1) A citation for a direct or critical violation or
citations for three or more indirect or noncritical
violations during the two-year period before the procurement
of the dog.
(2) Two consecutive citations for no access to a housing
facility before the procurement of the dog.
Section 909. Whistleblower protection.
An employee of a business, nonprofit entity or government
entity subject to this act shall be deemed to be an employee
under the act of December 12, 1986 (P.L.1559, No.169), known as
the Whistleblower Law, with regard to a good faith report of a
potential violation of this act or 7 U.S.C. Ch. 54 (relating to
transportation, sale, and handling of certain animals) . A
business, nonprofit entity or government entity subject to this
act shall be deemed to be an employer under the Whistleblower
Law with regard to a good faith report of a potential violation
of this act or 7 U.S.C. Ch. 54 .
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 180 days.
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