AZ SB1072

Requires persons at least 18 years old convicted of specified animal abuse felonies (cruelty to animals, animal fighting, bestiality) to register with the department of public safety within five days of conviction.

Establishes a five-year registration period for first convictions and a ten-year period for second or subsequent convictions of the specified offenses.

Creates a central animal abuser registry maintained by the department of public safety, available on its website by December 31, 2024, containing names, photographs, and addresses of registered offenders.

Requires employees, volunteers, or authorized agents of organizations that give, adopt out, or transfer companion animals to search the registry before transferring animals and prohibits transferring companion animals to persons listed in the registry, with exceptions for pet dealers and service animals approved by court exemption.

Establishes a class 1 misdemeanor penalty for failure to register or update registration information and a civil penalty of at least $250 for knowingly transferring a companion animal to a listed abuser.