Establishes an animal abuser registry

Deleted provisions that would have increased felony penalties for animal fighting, overdriving, torturing, and injuring animals.

Deleted provisions that would have increased penalties for aggravated cruelty to animals from a class A misdemeanor to a felony.

Added requirement for applicable license issuers to run background checks against the animal abuser registry and deny licenses to registered abusers.

Added requirement for the commissioner to run background checks against the animal abuser registry for license applications and renewals.

Added prohibition on selling, exchanging, or transferring ownership of any animal to a person listed on the animal abuser registry.

Modified required registration information to remove social security number, current address, place of employment, and conviction details, while adding current photograph requirement.

Modified license fee provisions for pet dealers and animal shelters, though the text appears incomplete with missing information about the exception for those selling or adopting fewer than twenty-five animals per year.

Changed the age threshold for animal abuser registry registration from over sixteen years of age to sixteen years of age or older.

Changed the registration authority from county sheriffs to the department of criminal justice services.

Added requirement for the department of criminal justice services to maintain a public registry accessible via internet, telephone, written, and in-person access.

Added requirement for county sheriffs to provide links to register with or view the animal abuser registry on their public websites.

Added requirement for the department of criminal justice services to forward registration information to county sheriffs, who must then notify humane societies, animal shelters, and local organizations within a half-mile radius of the abuser's residence.