NC S497

Creates the North Carolina Animal Abuser Registration Act, establishing a publicly accessible registry of persons convicted of felony animal abuse offenses maintained by the State Bureau of Investigation beginning January 1, 2020.

Registry includes booking photograph, full legal name, and identifying data for convicted abusers, but excludes Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, and other state or federal identification numbers.

Applies only to companion animals (domestic dogs and cats), excluding livestock and wildlife.

Court clerks must forward judgment copies and dates of birth to the Bureau within 60 calendar days of conviction.

Names remain on registry for two years following first conviction (or five years for subsequent convictions), then are removed unless another animal abuse offense occurs during that period; removal also occurs if the sole offense is expunged.