HB 2022 Summary

• Prohibits persons convicted of animal abuse offenses (intentional/knowing violations of animal cruelty statutes, and related violations) from adopting, fostering, owning, or having custody of any animal in their household.

• Requires prohibited persons to transfer all animals in their care to someone outside their household within 90 days of conviction.

• Allows convicted persons to apply for restoration of animal ownership rights no sooner than two years after conviction, unless they have prior convictions for repeat animal abuse offenses.

• Excludes time spent in absconder status, escape status, or incarceration from the two-year waiting period calculation.

• Establishes violation of the prohibition as a class 1 misdemeanor offense.