Bill Summaries: S497 ANIMAL ABUSE REGISTRY.

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  • Summary date: Apr 2 2019 - View Summary

    Enacts Article 47A, Animal Abuser Registry, to GS Chapter 14. Defines abuser or animal abuseranimal, animal abuse offenseBureau, companion animal, and conviction. Requires the NC State Bureau of Investigation (Bureau) to post on its website a publicly accessible list of any persons convicted of an animal abuse offense, defined as any violation of animal cruelty laws set out in Article 47 of GS Chapter 14, beginning January 1, 2020, for offenses committed on or after that date. Requires the list to include the abuser's intake photo, full name, and other identifying data. Prohibits inclusion of personally identifying information, as specified. Requires clerks of court to forward to the Bureau copies of judgment and the date of birth of all persons convicted of an animal abuse offense within 60 calendar days of the judgment. Requires the Bureau to maintain the convicted abuser's information for two years following the date of the person's first conviction, and remove the information after two years unless the person has subsequently been convicted of another animal abuse offense during that period. Requires the Department to maintain the information for five years for a person's subsequent conviction for animal abuse, as specified, and remove the information after the five years unless there is a subsequent conviction in those five years. Requires the Bureau to remove a person's information from the registry if the sole offense requiring the person to be included on the registry is expunged. Effective January 1, 2020.