MassVoter.com← All 2017–2018 votesSenate roll call #570 · 2017–2018 session · July 31, 2018
To protect animal welfare and safety in cities and towns
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What they voted on
Accept the final compromise version worked out by House and Senate negotiators
Official wording: S.2646, Question on acceptance of conference committee report
Who filed S.2646
Sponsor Animal Welfare and Safety
Committees often rewrite bills. The legislators who filed the original versions are listed on malegislature.gov.
Passed
Every member's vote
Voted yes (37)
- Michael J. Barrett Third Middlesex · Democrat
- Joseph A. Boncore First Suffolk and Middlesex · Democrat
- Michael D. Brady Second Plymouth and Bristol · Democrat
- William N. Brownsberger Second Suffolk and Middlesex · Democrat
- Harriette L. Chandler First Worcester · Democrat
- Sonia Chang-Diaz Second Suffolk · Democrat
- Nick Collins First Suffolk · Democrat
- Cynthia Stone Creem First Middlesex and Norfolk · Democrat
- Brendan P. Crighton Third Essex · Democrat
- Julian Cyr Cape and Islands · Democrat
- Viriato M. deMacedo Plymouth and Barnstable · Republican
- Sal N. DiDomenico Middlesex and Suffolk · Democrat
- James B. Eldridge Middlesex and Worcester · Democrat
- Ryan C. Fattman Worcester and Norfolk · Republican
- Paul R. Feeney Bristol and Norfolk · Democrat
- Cindy F. Friedman Fourth Middlesex · Democrat
- Anne M. Gobi Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Middlesex · Democrat
- Adam G. Hinds Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden · Democrat
- Donald F. Humason, Jr. Second Hampden and Hampshire · Republican
- Patricia D. Jehlen Second Middlesex · Democrat
- John F. Keenan Norfolk and Plymouth · Democrat
- Barbara A. L'Italien Second Essex and Middlesex · Democrat
- Eric P. Lesser First Hampden and Hampshire · Democrat
- Jason M. Lewis Fifth Middlesex · Democrat
- Joan B. Lovely Second Essex · Democrat
- Mark C. Montigny Second Bristol and Plymouth · Democrat
- Michael O. Moore Second Worcester · Democrat
- Patrick M. O'Connor Plymouth and Norfolk · Republican
- Marc R. Pacheco First Plymouth and Bristol · Democrat
- Michael J. Rodrigues First Bristol and Plymouth · Democrat
- Richard J. Ross Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex · Republican
- Michael F. Rush Norfolk and Suffolk · Democrat
- Karen E. Spilka Second Middlesex and Norfolk · Democrat
- Bruce E. Tarr First Essex and Middlesex · Republican
- Walter F. Timilty Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth · Democrat
- Dean A. Tran Worcester and Middlesex · Republican
- James T. Welch Hampden · Democrat
Did not vote (1)
- Kathleen O'Connor Ives First Essex · Democrat
What it means
Changes several animal protection laws. It makes sexual contact with an animal a crime (up to 7 years in state prison or a $5,000 fine for a first offense, up to 10 years or $10,000 after that) and adds it to the sex offender registry law, and sets the same penalties for killing an animal by drowning, with the ban for licensed trappers and hunters delayed until a state report on alternatives is filed or June 1, 2019. Landlords and owners must check vacated, evicted or foreclosed properties for abandoned animals within 3 days and alert animal control or police (civil fines up to $500, then $1,000), and state social service workers may report suspected animal cruelty they see during their investigations. It also sets a new schedule of fines under section 173A of the dog laws ($50 to $500), raises a $250 fine in section 137C of the dog laws to $500 for a first offense, requires home and renters insurers to record details of dog-related claims starting January 1, 2019, with reports through January 1, 2022, and creates a commission to study wider animal cruelty reporting duties, due March 1, 2019.
Source: official text and history of S.2646 on malegislature.gov.
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Source: S.2646 on malegislature.gov · official roll call. MassVoter never grades or scores legislators. How to read this