H.R. 8733 – Child and Animal Abuse Detection and Reporting Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated January 20, 2026 at 5:19 PM UTC

The Child and Animal Abuse Detection and Reporting Act amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to require the Department of Health and Human Services to add information about animal abuse to the national data system that tracks child abuse and neglect. By doing so, it aims to help identify links between animal cruelty and child maltreatment. The change affects federal agencies that manage the clearinghouse and any state or local entities that report child abuse data.

Key Provisions

Amends Section 103(b)(6) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to add a new category (D) for reporting the incidence of cases involving animal abuse, regardless of state cruelty laws.
Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to include animal abuse data in the national clearinghouse for child abuse and neglect information.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Education and Workforce Committee

June 13, 2024

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

June 13, 2024

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Education and Workforce Committee

June 13, 2024

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued June 13, 2024

I

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 8733

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 13, 2024

Ms. Kuster (for herself and Mr. Van Drew) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

A BILL

To amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to include data on animal abuse in the national clearinghouse for information relating to child abuse and neglect.

1.

Short Title

This Act may be cited as the Child and Animal Abuse Detection and Reporting Act.

2.

Inclusion of data on animal abuse in national clearinghouse for information relating to child abuse and neglect

Section 103(b)(6) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5104(b)(6)) is amended—

(1)

in subparagraph (B), by striking and at the end;

(2)

in subparagraph (C), by adding and at the end; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(D)

the incidence of any such cases related to animal abuse (including any act or failure to act, which results in undue pain, suffering, or death to any animal, without regard to whether such act or failure to act is a violation of State or local cruelty law);

.