License suspensions and revocations

Section 19 of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2149) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) by striking hereunder, he may suspend and inserting the following: hereunder— (1) in the case of any such violation that is not described in paragraph (2), the Secretary may suspend; (B) by striking the period at the end and inserting; and; and (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (2) in the case of such a violation that the Secretary determines presents a risk to animal welfare, the Secretary shall— (A) suspend such person’s license temporarily, but for a period not to exceed 21 days; and (B) after notice and opportunity for an informal hearing, permanently revoke such license if the Secretary determines that— (i) the violation occurred; (ii) the violation presents or has presented a risk to animal welfare; and (iii) the violation has persisted past the initial period of license suspension under subparagraph (A) or the person has been found to have committed one or more other such violations (including by entering a nolo contendere, no contest plea, or guilty plea with respect to any such violation) affecting animal welfare.; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (e) (1) Any person whose license has been suspended for any reason shall not be licensed, or registered, in his or her own name or in any other manner, within the period during which the order of suspension is in effect. No family member, household member, partnership, firm, corporation, or other legal entity in which any such person has a substantial interest, financial or otherwise, will be licensed or registered during that period. (2) Any person whose license has been revoked shall not be licensed or registered, in his or her own name or in any other manner, at any time, and no family member, household member, partnership, firm, corporation, or other legal entity in which any such person has a substantial interest, financial or otherwise, will be licensed or registered. (3) Any person whose license has been suspended or revoked shall not buy, sell, transport, exhibit, deliver for transportation, or be employed in any capacity with respect to any animal during the period of suspension or revocation, under any circumstances, whether on his or her behalf or on the behalf of another licensee or registrant..