Bill > SB662

This bill amends Pennsylvania law to provide the Attorney General with additional authority to prosecute felony animal cruelty offenses. Specifically, the bill allows the Attorney General to investigate and initiate criminal proceedings for animal cruelty felonies under two scenarios: first, if the local district attorney agrees in writing to allow the Attorney General to take over the prosecution; or second, if the district attorney fails to respond to the Attorney General's initial prosecution request within 90 days, and then fails to respond to a subsequent certified request within 10 days. This provision effectively creates a mechanism for the state-level Attorney General's office to step in and prosecute animal cruelty cases if local prosecutors are unresponsive or unable to do so. The bill will take effect 60 days after its passage, giving local jurisdictions time to prepare for the potential change in prosecution protocols. By granting concurrent jurisdiction, the law aims to ensure that serious animal cruelty cases are not left unprosecuted due to local resource constraints or lack of action.

Justice

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=662