Pennsylvania: HB 671 would allow BSL

Update 6/6/09: Galloway has rewritten the bill. The new bill number is HB 1243. The language retains the statewide prohibition against BSL. HB 1243 can be tracked here: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2009&sind=0&body=H&type=B&BN=1243 Because BSL is no longer a possibility with this bill, it is being dropped from the statewide alert list.

Edit 4/7/09: Based on comments here, it appears the bill may have been modified to remove the possibility of BSL. The revised version is not posted yet. Please wait to contact the bill author and committee until the revised version is presented and confirmed breed-neutral.

Rep. John Galloway is trying to pass BSL again.

Pennsylvania HB 671, introduced by Rep. Galloway and referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Affairs, would remove the statewide prohibition against BSL and permit municipalities to pass BSL.

The section of the proposed legislation that would allow this is below. The underlined section is the text that would be added to current law.

(c) Local ordinances.–[Those provisions of local ordinances relating to dangerous dogs are hereby abrogated.] A local ordinance otherwise dealing with dogs may not prohibit or otherwise limit a specific breed of dog. This act shall not supersede or preclude the adoption of any municipal ordinance applicable to dangerous dogs.

What this means, in plain English, is that municipalities (cities) can’t institute breed bans or other breed-specific legislation except when it comes to “dangerous” dogs–then they are free to implement BSL.

Bill can be tracked here: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?&syear=2009&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=0671

Please contact the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Affairs and provide them with your polite objections to this bill.

There will also be a hearing on this bill (not yet scheduled).

Bill Sponsor

Hon. John T. Galloway
104 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202140
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2140
(717) 787-1292
Fax: (717) 780-4780

Members of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Affairs
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/cteeInfo/cteeInfo.cfm?body=H&cde=2

Hon. Michael K. Hanna, Chairman
302 Main Capitol Building
PO Box 202076
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2076
(717) 772-2283
Fax: (717) 787-4137

Hon. David R. Kessler, Vice Chairman
115A East Wing
PO Box 202130
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2130
(717) 787-2769
Fax: (717) 780-4768

Hon. H. Scott Conklin, Secretary
101B East Wing
PO Box 202077
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2077
(717) 787-9473
Fax: (717) 780-4764

Hon. Mike Carroll
28A East Wing
PO Box 202118
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2118
(717) 787-3589
Fax: (717) 780-4763

Hon. Eugene DePasquale
111A East Wing
PO Box 202095
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2095
(717) 787-7514
Fax: (717) 780-4765

Hon. Richard T. Grucela
G-01 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202137
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2137
(717) 705-1878
Fax: (717) 783-3180

Hon. Gary Haluska
114 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202073
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2073
(717) 787-3532
Fax: (717) 783-7548

Hon. Tom Houghton
121B East Wing
PO Box 202013
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2013
(717) 772-2426
Fax: (717) 787-6727

Hon. Babette Josephs
300 Main Capitol Building
PO Box 202182
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2182
(717) 787-8529
Fax: (717) 787-5066

Hon. Rick Mirabito
25B East Wing
PO Box 202083
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2083
(717) 772-1314

Hon. John Myers
305 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202201
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2201
(717) 787-3181
Fax: (717) 772-4038

Hon. Frank Louis Oliver
34E East Wing
PO Box 202195
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2195
(717) 787-3480
Fax: (717) 783-0684

Hon. Joseph Preston Jr.
332A Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202024
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2024
(717) 783-1017
Fax: (717) 787-7520

Hon. Timothy J. Solobay
G-14 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202048
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2048
(717) 787-1188
Fax: (717) 705-1887

Hon. Jesse White
102B East Wing
PO Box 202046
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2046
(717) 783-6437

Hon. Sam Rohrer, Minority Chairman, srohrer@pahousegop.com
45 East Wing
PO Box 202128
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2128
(717) 787-8550
Fax: (717) 783-7862

Hon. Karen Boback, kboback@pahousegop.com
141B East Wing
PO Box 202117
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2117
(717) 787-1117
Fax: (717) 705-1889

Hon. Michele Brooks, mbrooks@pahousegop.com
153B East Wing
PO Box 202017
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2017
(717) 783-5008
Fax: (717) 705-1948

Hon. Jim Cox
412 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202129
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2129
(717) 772-2435
Fax: (717) 260-6516

Hon. Gordon Denlinger, gdenling@pahousegop.com
163A East Wing
PO Box 202099
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2099
(717) 787-3531
Fax: (717) 705-1951

Hon. C. Adam Harris, aharris@pahousegop.com
51B East Wing
PO Box 202082
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2082
(717) 783-7830
Fax: (717) 772-9869

Hon. David S. Hickernell, Dhickern@pahousegop.com
B-12 Main Capitol Building
PO Box 202098
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2098
(717) 783-2076
Fax: (717) 787-9175

Hon. Mark K. Keller, mkeller@pahousegop.com
5 East Wing
PO Box 202086
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2086
(717) 783-1593
Fax: (717) 705-7012

Hon. Carl Walker Metzgar, Cmetzgar@pahousegop.com
402 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202069
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2069
(717) 783-8756
Fax: (717) 783-3899

Hon. David R. Millard, dmillard@pahousegop.com
402B Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202109
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2109
(717) 783-1102
Fax: (717) 772-0094

Hon. Tina Pickett, tpickett@pahousegop.com
211 Ryan Office Building
PO Box 202110
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2110
(717) 783-8238
Fax: (717) 260-6536