Changed much? Not that Dad can tell...Originally posted by lizbud
HOORAY for Ohio !!!
Has the Bill changed much in language
from the original Bill as submitted?
Senate Bill 221 did some modifications to several existing Ohio laws that govern Peace Officers, Humane Officers, child abuse, AND the Law (ORC Section 959) which described Animal Cruelty and set the penalties for Animal Abuse and Cruelty.
The new Law doesn't make ALL forms of animal cruelty and abuse punishable as Felonies - but it DOES increase a lot of animal abuse & cruelty crimes from "minor misdemeanors" (usually punished by a $100 fine but no jail time) to being "Misdemeanors - Fourth through First Degree". Those crimes can get youThirty Days & $250 up to 6 Months and $1,000 after conviction. "Abandoning" an animal is a 2nd Degree the first time, and a First Degree Misdemeanor the second and subsequent times.
Dog Fighting got a nice boost in punishment:
Conviction will now get you from 6-18 Months in the slammer, and up to a $5,000 fine, as it is now considered a Fourth Degree FELONY!
And Bill 221 created a New Section (ORC 959.131) that defines and punishes almost ALL Forms of Animal Cruelty & Abuse ("torturing, beating, killing") done by Anyone - including Caretakers and Custodians of animals. THAT will get you a First Degree Misdemeanor the first time; and a FELONY 5 the second time!
The new Laws aren't purfikt;
but they DO have some TEETH in em!
If you WANT to read a good summary of the Bill 221 provisions:
SUMMARY of SB 221.
The actual Bill 221 is printed here:
SB 221 As Passed & Signed by Gov Taft.
The sad part about trying to *read* the Bill is -
You ALSO need to find the basic ORC Section 959 to figure out what all the References to ORC Section numbers are talking about...
I used Anderson's Ohio Revised Code (Sec 959).
All thing considered;
Ohio moved closer to actually Punishing Animal Abusers!
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