Bill > H1385

This bill establishes an "animal abuse registry" managed by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS) to track individuals convicted of animal abuse crimes, which are defined as crimes against animals under specific Massachusetts General Laws or comparable statutes in other states. Those convicted of such crimes, who are 18 or older or tried as adults, must register within ten days of their conviction or release from incarceration, providing their name, address, offense details, and a photograph. This registration is required for five years and can be extended. A $50 annual fee is imposed to cover administrative costs, and failure to register, update information, or providing false information carries penalties including fines and imprisonment. Individuals may appeal their registration requirement if they can demonstrate they pose no risk of reoffending. The registry itself will be kept confidential by the DCJIS but accessible to animal shelters, pet stores, and animal breeders in Massachusetts, who are then required to check the registry before selling or adopting out animals and are prohibited from providing animals to anyone listed on it, with penalties for non-compliance.