I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2492 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 11, 2011 Mr. Marino (for himself and Ms. Sutton) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To prohibit attendance of an animal fighting venture, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act of 2011.

2.

Prohibition on attending an animal fight or causing a minor to attend an animal fight

Section 26 of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2156) is amended— (1)in subsection (a)— (A)in the heading, by striking Sponsoring or Exhibiting an Animal in and inserting Sponsoring or Exhibiting an Animal in, Attending, or Causing a Minor To Attend; (B)in paragraph (1)— (i)in the heading, by striking In general and inserting Sponsoring or Exhibiting; and (ii)by striking paragraph (2) and inserting paragraph (3); (C)by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and (D)by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraph: (2)

Attending or causing a minor to attend

It shall be unlawful for any person to— (A)knowingly attend an animal fighting venture; or (B)cause a minor to attend an animal fighting venture. ; and (2)in subsection (g), by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (5)the term minor means a person under the age of 18 years old. .

3.

Enforcement of animal fighting prohibitions

Section 49 of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1)by striking Whoever and inserting (a) In general.—Whoever; (2)in subsection (a), as designated by paragraph (1) of this section, by striking subsection (a), and inserting subsection (a)(1),; and (3)by adding at the end the following new subsections: (b)

Attending an animal fighting venture

Whoever violates subsection (a)(2)(A) of section 26 of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2156) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both, for each violation. (c)

Causing a minor To attend an animal fighting venture

Whoever violates subsection (a)(2)(B) of section 26 (7 U.S.C. 2156) of the Animal Welfare Act shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 3 years, or both, for each violation. .