Signed by Governor Mike DeWine

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires veterinarians, law-enforcement officers, therapists, social workers, and other social-service professionals to immediately alert authorities when they find or suspect abuse of dogs, cats, or other companion animals.

Highlights:

• Defines "Social service professional" as an employee or agent of a public children services agency or an employee or agent of a county department of job and family services with responsibility for protective services (Sec. 1-5).

• Defines “Peace officer” as a sheriff, deputy sheriff, constable, police officer of a township or joint police district, marshal, deputy marshal, municipal police officer, or a state highway patrol trooper (Sec. 1-P.4).

• Prohibits officers, dog wardens, or deputy dog wardens operating in an official or

professional capacity, from failing to immediately report a violation involving a companion animal to an appropriate social service professional (Sec. 1-959.08). 

• Establishes the value of the animal killed or the injury done amounts to $300 or more is a crime of a misdemeanor of the first degree (Sec. 1-959.99.B).

• Authorizes a court to order a person who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of section 959.131 of the Revised Code to forfeit to an impounding agency, any or all of the companion animals in that person's ownership or care (Sec. 1-6.a). 

• Specifies that the court may also prohibit or place limitations on the person's ability to own or care for any companion animals for a specified or indefinite period of time (Sec. 1-6.a).

• Requires the person making the report to make it to the public children services agency or a peace officer in the county in which the child resides or in which the abuse or neglect is occurring or has occurred (Sec.1-4.a).

• Authorizes the state veterinary medical licensing board to refuse to issue or renew a license, limited license, registration, or temporary permit to or of any applicant who, and may issue a reprimand to, suspend or revoke the license, limited license, registration, or the temporary permit of, or impose a civil penalty pursuant to this section upon any person holding a license, limited license, or temporary permit to practice veterinary medicine or any person registered as a registered veterinary technician (Sec. 1-4741.22).

• Requires a license or registration issued to an individual under this chapter to be automatically suspended upon that individual's conviction of or plea of guilty to, or upon a judicial finding with regard to any of the following: aggravated murder, murder, voluntary manslaughter, felonious assault, kidnapping, rape, sexual battery, gross sexual imposition, aggravated arson, aggravated robbery, or aggravated burglary (Sec. 1-2.F).

Full Bill Text