A new state bill aimed at safeguarding pets from stalkers has gained momentum in the California Legislature. 

Senate Bill 221, introduced by Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R–Yucaipa), has passed the Senate floor with unanimous support and is now set to advance to the Assembly.

The big picture: Under current law, stalking includes threats that instill fear in an individual for their safety or that of immediate family members. 

• SB 221 seeks to revise California Penal Code Section 6469 to extend this protection to include credible threats made against a person’s animals.

State of play: The legislation comes as stalking continues to impact millions of Americans annually, with statistics from the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey revealing that one in three women and one in six men in the US have encountered stalking incidents. 

• Advocates stress that pets are frequently leveraged as tools of coercion and fear.
• According to the National Crime Victimization Survey, 40% of stalkers not only threaten victims but also their families, friends, co-workers, or animals. More than 87,000 stalking cases involving threats against pets have been reported.

What we’re watching: If SB 221 is enacted, individuals convicted of stalking under the expanded definition could face up to one year in jail, a $1,000 fine, or lengthier prison terms for severe or repeat offenses.

What they’re saying: “Stalkers often use pets as a way to terrorize their victims, and California law has largely ignored this issue,” said Ochoa Bogh in a statement. “With the introduction of SB 221, we aim to put an end to this. Threatening to harm an animal in order to control or intimidate someone is a form of psychological abuse and should have consequences.”