Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act

To revise section 48 of title 18, United States Code, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act 2. Revision of section 48 (a) In general Section 48 of title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 48. Animal crushing (a) Offenses (1) Crushing It shall be unlawful for any person to intentionally engage in animal crushing in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. (2) Creation of animal crush videos It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly create an animal crush video, if— (A) the person intends or has reason to know that the animal crush video will be distributed in, or using a means or facility of, interstate or foreign commerce; or (B) the animal crush video is distributed in, or using a means or facility of, interstate or foreign commerce. (3) Distribution of animal crush videos It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly sell, market, advertise, exchange, or distribute an animal crush video in, or using a means or facility of, interstate or foreign commerce. (b) Extraterritorial Application This section applies to the knowing sale, marketing, advertising, exchange, distribution, or creation of an animal crush video outside of the United States, if— (1) the person engaging in such conduct intends or has reason to know that the animal crush video will be transported into the United States or its territories or possessions; or (2) the animal crush video is transported into the United States or its territories or possessions. (c) Penalties Whoever violates this section shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 7 years, or both. (d) Exceptions (1) In general This section does not apply with regard to any conduct, or a visual depiction of that conduct, that is— (A) a customary and normal veterinary or agricultural husbandry practice; (B) the slaughter of animals for food; (C) hunting, trapping, fishing, predator control, or pest control; (D) medical or scientific research; or (E) necessary to protect the life of person or property of a person from a serious threat caused by an animal. (2) Good-faith distribution This section does not apply to the good-faith distribution of an animal crush video to— (A) a law enforcement agency; or (B) a third party for the sole purpose of analysis to determine if referral to a law enforcement agency is appropriate. (e) No Preemption Nothing in this section shall be construed to preempt the law of any State or local subdivision thereof to protect animals. (f) Definitions In this section— (1) the term “animal crushing” means actual conduct in which 1 or more living non-human mammals, birds, reptiles, or amphibians is intentionally crushed, burned, drowned, suffocated, impaled, or otherwise subjected to serious bodily injury (as defined in section 1365 and including conduct that, if committed against a person and in the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, would violate section 2241 or 2242); and (2) the term “animal crush video” means any photograph, motion-picture film, video or digital recording, or electronic image that— (A) depicts animal crushing; and (B) is obscene. . (b) Clerical amendment The item relating to section 48 in the table of sections for chapter 3 48. Animal Crushing. .

Summary: Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit intentionally engaging in animal crushing in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. (Current law prohibits knowingly creating or distributing an animal crush video.) Adds exceptions for conduct that is for predator or pest control, medical or scientific research, or necessary to protect the life or property of a person from a serious threat caused by an animal.