AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION ACT

HB 5669, titled the "Domestic Violence Prevention Act," expands the definition of domestic violence to include certain animal cruelty offenses. The bill specifically adds crimes such as unnecessary cruelty, malicious injury or killing, and abandonment of an animal to the list of acts considered domestic violence. This applies when these offenses are committed by one family or household member against another, and the animal is owned or cared for by a household member. The bill aims to broaden the scope of protections under existing domestic violence laws by recognizing these acts as forms of domestic violence.