1Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
2Consolidated Statutes, in cruelty to animals, providing for
3civil and criminal immunity.

4The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5hereby enacts as follows:

6Section 1. Section 5511(q) of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania
7Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding definitions and the
8section is amended by adding a subsection to read:

9§ 5511. Cruelty to animals.

10* * *

11(p.1) Immunity.--A licensed doctor of veterinary medicine,
12certified veterinary technician or veterinary assistant who
13reports, in good faith and in the normal course of business, a
14suspected incident of animal cruelty to the proper authority
15shall be immune from liability in a civil or criminal action
16brought against the licensed doctor of veterinary medicine,

1certified veterinary technician or veterinary assistant for
2reporting the incident.

3(q) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
4words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
5subsection:

6* * *

7"Certified veterinary technician." As defined in section
83(13) of the act of December 27, 1974 (P.L.995, No.326), known 
9as the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act.

10* * *

11"Licensed doctor of veterinary medicine." As defined in
12section 3(8) of the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act.

13* * *

14"Veterinary assistant."  As defined in section 3(14) of the
15Veterinary Medicine Practice Act.

16* * *

17Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.