HB 295 — An Act amending the act of December 7, 1982 (P.L.784, No.225), known as the Dog Law, 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.

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
 1   Amending the act of December 7, 1982 (P.L.784, No.225), entitled
 2      "An act relating to dogs, regulating the keeping of dogs;
 3      providing for the licensing of dogs and kennels; providing
 4      for the protection of dogs and the detention and destruction
 5      of dogs in certain cases; regulating the sale and
 6      transportation of dogs; declaring dogs to be personal
 7      property and the subject of theft; providing for the
 8      abandonment of animals; providing for the assessment of
 9      damages done to animals; providing for payment of damages by
10      the Commonwealth in certain cases and the liability of the
11      owner or keeper of dogs for such damages; imposing powers and
12      duties on certain State and local officers and employees;
13      providing penalties; and creating a Dog Law Restricted
14      Account," in licenses, tags and kennels, further providing
15      for revocation or refusal of kennel licenses and providing
16      for prohibition on sale of dogs bred by certain persons; and,
17      in enforcement and penalties, providing for whistleblower
18      protection.
19      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
20   hereby enacts as follows:
21      Section 1.    Section 211(a) introductory paragraph of the act
22   of December 7, 1982 (P.L.784, No.225), known as the Dog Law,
23   amended July 8, 2024 (P.L.527, No.47), is amended to read:
24   Section 211.    Revocation or refusal of kennel licenses.
 1      (a)   General powers of secretary.--The secretary shall revoke
 2   a kennel license, dealer license or out-of-state dealer license
 3   if a licensee is convicted of a violation of 18 Pa.C.S. § 3129
 4   (relating to sexual intercourse with animal), 5532 (relating to
 5   neglect of animal) if graded as a misdemeanor or higher, 5533
 6   (relating to cruelty to animal) if graded as a misdemeanor or
 7   higher, 5534 (relating to aggravated cruelty to animal), 5535
 8   (relating to attack of service, guide or support dog), 5542
 9   (relating to animal mutilation and related offenses) if graded
10   as a misdemeanor or higher, 5543 (relating to animal fighting),
11   5544 (relating to possession of animal fighting paraphernalia),
12   5548 (relating to police animals) or 5549 (relating to assault
13   with a biological agent on animal, fowl or honey bees) or of
14   substantially similar conduct pursuant to 7 U.S.C. Ch. 54
15   (relating to transportation, sale, and handling of certain
16   animals), 18 U.S.C. § 48 (relating to animal crushing) or a
17   cruelty law of another state. The secretary shall not issue a
18   kennel license, dealer license or out-of-state dealer license to
19   a person that has been convicted of a violation of 18 Pa.C.S. §
20   3129, 5532 if graded as a misdemeanor or higher, 5533 if graded
21   as a misdemeanor or higher, 5534, 5535, 5542 if graded as a
22   misdemeanor or higher, 5543, 5544, 5548 or 5549 within the last
23   ten years. The secretary may revoke or refuse to issue a kennel
24   license, dealer license or out-of-state dealer license for any
25   one or more of the following reasons:
26            * * *
27      Section 2.     The act is amended by adding sections to read:
28   Section 222.     Prohibition on sale of dogs bred by certain
29                persons.
30      Notwithstanding the provisions of section 908, a dealer or

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 1   kennel may not sell or offer for sale, including a sale for
 2   research purposes, a dog bred by a person who has received any
 3   of the following from the United States Department of
 4   Agriculture as authorized under 7 U.S.C. Ch. 54 (relating to
 5   transportation, sale, and handling of certain animals) and its
 6   attendant regulations:
 7          (1)     A citation for a direct or critical violation or
 8      citations for three or more indirect or noncritical
 9      violations during the two-year period before the procurement
10      of the dog.
11          (2)     Two consecutive citations for no access to a housing
12      facility before the procurement of the dog.
13   Section 909.    Whistleblower protection.
14      An employee of a business, nonprofit entity or government
15   entity subject to this act shall be deemed to be an employee
16   under the act of December 12, 1986 (P.L.1559, No.169), known as
17   the Whistleblower Law, with regard to a good faith report of a
18   potential violation of this act or 7 U.S.C. Ch. 54 (relating to
19   transportation, sale, and handling of certain animals). A
20   business, nonprofit entity or government entity subject to this
21   act shall be deemed to be an employer under the Whistleblower
22   Law with regard to a good faith report of a potential violation
23   of this act or 7 U.S.C. Ch. 54.
24      Section 3.    This act shall take effect in 180 days.




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