LANSING (WKZO-AM) — The Michigan House is expected to take up legislation this week that would create an informal registry of Michiganders who have been convicted of crimes against animals.
The bill has already cleared the Senate
Using an existing database, it would allow animal shelters and pet adoption agencies to do a background check. Rep. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, said anyone convicted of such a crime would be banned for five years from adopting another pet.
“They want to make sure they’re not adopting out to an abuser who is just going to create another victim,” Jones said.
The original bill was to create a separate and new database. This version piggybacks on the existing Internet Criminal History Access Tool maintained by Michigan State Police, minimizing cost.
– John McNeill
