Pet and Women Safety Act of 2017
- Last Action
- 3/9/2017
Actions
- 2017-03-09Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
- 2017-02-24Referred to the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture.
- 2017-02-07Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2017-02-07Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2017-02-07Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2017-02-07Introduced in House
- 2017-02-07Introduced in House
CRS Summary
As of 2017-02-07 (00)
Pet and Women Safety Act of 2017
This bill amends the federal criminal code to broaden the definition of stalking to include conduct that causes a person to experience a reasonable fear of death or serious bodily injury to his or her pet.
Additionally, an interstate violation of a protection order includes interstate travel with the intent to violate a protection order against a pet that is included within the scope of the protection order. The bill specifies the applicable criminal penalty—a prison term of up to five years, a fine, or both—for a person who commits an interstate violation of a protection order against a pet.
With respect to a defendant who commits a domestic violence offense or an interstate violation of a protection order, mandatory restitution in the "full amount of victim's losses" includes costs incurred for veterinary services related to the pet.
The bill directs the Department of Agriculture to award grants for shelter and housing assistance and support services for domestic violence victims with pets.
Finally, it expresses the sense of Congress that states should include, in domestic violence protection orders, protections against violence or threats against a person's pet.
Cosponsors (20)
- ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN (R-FL)
- Jeff Denham (R-CA)
- Mimi Walters (R-CA)
- RICHARD NOLAN (D-MN)
- Steve Cohen (D-TN)
- JERROLD NADLER (D-NY)
- RICK LARSEN (D-WA)
- Tony Cárdenas (D-CA)
- LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD (D-CA)
- William Keating (D-MA)
- SHEILA JACKSON LEE (D-TX)
- Bill Foster (D-IL)
- Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)
- ADAM SMITH (D-WA)
- Brenda Lawrence (D-MI)
- Jackie Speier (D-CA)
- Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ)
- LOUISE SLAUGHTER (D-NY)
- Matt Cartwright (D-PA)
- Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ)
Subjects
- Animal protection and human-animal relationships
- Assault and harassment offenses
- Crime victims
- Crimes against animals and natural resources
- Crimes against women
- Domestic violence and child abuse
- Homelessness and emergency shelter
- Sex offenses
- Veterinary medicine and animal diseases
- Violent crime
Sourced from Congress.gov (public domain).
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.