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

This bill expands domestic violence protections by including animal cruelty offenses committed by family or household members against others. It directly affects victims of domestic violence who also have pets, as harming pets will now be classified as part of domestic violence under criminal procedure laws. The key mechanism adds "animal cruelty" to the list of offenses covered under domestic violence statutes, requiring courts to consider such acts when evaluating protection orders or criminal charges. This change ensures that abusers targeting pets as a form of control are held accountable under existing domestic violence legal frameworks.