An Act To Establish an Animal Abuser Registry
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 17 MRSA §1031, sub-§6 is enacted to read:
6. Placement on registry. A person convicted of a violation under this section is placed on the animal abuser registry for the county in which that person resides at the time of the conviction and must comply with registry requirements under section 1031‑A.
Sec. 2. 17 MRSA §1031-A is enacted to read:
§ 1031-A. Animal abuser registries
1. Definition. For purposes of this section, "animal abuser" means a person over 18 years of age who is convicted of cruelty to animals in violation of section 1031 or of a comparable statute of another state.
2. Registration requirement. An animal abuser physically within the boundaries of this State for more than 10 consecutive days shall register with the county sheriff for the county in which the animal abuser is located before the end of the 11th day in the State. A previously registered animal abuser shall reregister with the county sheriff for the county in which the animal abuser is located no later than 10 days after moving to a new location within the State.
3. Information provided by animal abuser registering. An animal abuser registering under this section shall provide the county sheriff with the following information:
A. The legal name and any other names or aliases that the animal abuser is using or has used;
B. The date of birth of the animal abuser;
C. The social security number of the animal abuser;
D. The current address or location of the animal abuser;
E. The place of employment of the animal abuser;
F. The animal cruelty offense for which the animal abuser was convicted; and
G. The date and place of the animal cruelty conviction of the animal abuser.
4. Additional information obtained by county sheriff. When an animal abuser registers with a county sheriff, the sheriff shall obtain:
A. A photograph of the animal abuser and a complete set of the animal abuser's fingerprints; and
B. A description of any tattoos, scars or other distinguishing features on the animal abuser's body that would assist in identifying the animal abuser.
5. Period on registry. Following an animal abuser's initial registration under section 1031, subsection 6 or subsection 2, an animal abuser shall renew the animal abuser's registration with the county sheriff prior to December 31st of each subsequent calendar year for a period of 15 years.
6. Failure to comply. An animal abuser who intentionally or knowingly fails to comply with this section, or who provides false information when complying with this section, is guilty of a Class C crime.
7. Responsibilities of county sheriff. Each county sheriff shall maintain a registry of animal abusers in the sheriff's jurisdiction who are required to register under this section. Within 10 days of receiving an initial registration, the county sheriff shall:
A. Forward all registration information obtained from the animal abuser to the Department of Public Safety, State Bureau of Identification; and
B. Contact every residence, school, humane society, animal shelter and any other business within a 1/2 mile radius of the animal abuser's residence or location and provide them with the animal abuser's registration information, with the exception of the animal abuser's social security number.
8. Maintenance of central registry. The Department of Public Safety, State Bureau of Identification shall establish and maintain a central registry of animal abusers required to register under this section. The central registry of animal abusers must be made available to the public and accessible in print as well as by Internet and telephone, and available for in-person inspection at the office of the State Bureau of Identification. All of the information contained in an animal abuser's registration, with the exception of the animal abuser's social security number, must be made available. Records of each animal abuser's registration must be maintained for the duration of the 15‑year period in which the animal abuser is required to be registered.
9. Application. This section applies to all persons convicted of animal cruelty under section 1031 or a comparable statute in another state after the effective date of this section.
summary
This bill requires a person convicted of animal cruelty under Maine's criminal law or convicted of a comparable offense in another state to register as an animal abuser with the county sheriff for a period of 15 years. It requires the county sheriff to maintain a registry and disseminate information on the registered animal abuser. It requires the Department of Public Safety, State Bureau of Identification to maintain a central registry of animal abusers.