State Rep. Tex Fischer has introduced his first bill, which would hold people found guilty of animal cruelty more accountable.
The legislation needs to be given a bill number and assigned to a House committee.
The chances the legislation will be enacted this year as a standalone bill are slim with the House not meeting until Nov. 20. The House has four sessions planned for the rest of the year and three “as-needed” dates for possible sessions.
Under that scenario, Fischer’s bill would have to pass in the House and the state Senate by the end of this year.
Fischer, R-Boardman, said it is more realistic the proposal, which is changing a couple of sentences, could get put into an existing bill as an amendment.
If it doesn’t pass by the end of the year, Fischer said he would reintroduce it next year. That’s assuming he wins the Nov. 5 election for the 59th House District seat against Democrat Laura Schaeffer.
Fischer’s legislation would strengthen the definition of “animal cruelty” in state law by stating no person shall cause harm to a companion animal, defined as “any animal that is kept inside a residential dwelling and any dog or cat regardless of where it is kept, including a pet store.”
Fischer pointed to the existing law that is the subject of an Ohio Supreme Court case in which a man in October 2021 in Cleveland poured a mixture that included bleach on a stray cat.
The man, Alonzo Kyles, was convicted of a felony count of cruelty to a companion animal by a Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court and sentenced to nine months in prison. The 8th District Court of Appeals vacated the conviction, finding stray cats didn’t meet the definition of “companion animal” under the law and that Kyles could have been convicted of a misdemeanor count of animal cruelty.
The case is pending before the state’s top court, which heard the case July 23, but hasn’t made a decision. During that hearing, justices said “companion animal” was a vague term.
Fischer agreed the term in state law is vague and he wants to provide clarity.
“I read about the case and I was horrified,” he said. “I have a cat and a dog. What was done was cruel and inhumane behavior. I’ve never met anyone who supports animal abuse.”
Fischer added, “By closing this loophole and clarifying the language in the law, we can assure this type of cruel act will face appropriate consequences and hopefully deter this type of abuse.”
Fischer was appointed June 26 to the Ohio House seat vacated by Republican Al Cutrona of Canfield, who moved up to the state Senate on the same day after Republican Michael Rulli of Salem was elected June 11 to the then-open 6th Congressional District post.
The Ohio House hasn’t met since June 26.
Fischer said he is also planning to introduce legislation shortly regarding a savings program for the skilled trades. If that bill doesn’t get passed this year, Fischer said he would introduce it again in 2025, again assuming he is elected to the position.