Colorado Gov. Jared Polis Jared Schutz PolisMore than 1,000 gather at Colorado racetrack to protest governor's coronavirus orders Over 300 LGBT leaders endorse Biden for president : 'The most pro-equality ticket in US history' Colorado GOP lawmaker, Michelle Malkin sue governor over coronavirus orders MORE (D) signed legislation this week that bans animal abusers in the state from being able to own a pet for up to five years.

The governor’s office said in a release that he signed the legislation, also known as Animal Ban For Cruelty To Animals Conviction, as one of several efforts to commemorate Animal Welfare Day in the state on Wednesday.

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Under the legislation, the bill states that a court can enter an “order prohibiting a person convicted of felony animal cruelty from owning a pet animal for a period of 3 to 5 years.”



The bill also states that a juvenile convicted of animal cruelty can also be “adjudicated a delinquent for an animal cruelty crime from owning a pet animal.”

Polis said the law will “increase restrictions of people convicted of felony pet animal cruelty, and facilitate mental health and treatments to address the underlying factors that drive tragic animal cruelty” in a statement seen by a local CBS station.

The governor also announced a new effort called the People for Animal Welfare (PAW) Committee in Colorado this week, which he called “an opportunity to look at what Colorado can do to protect our animals from cruelty and ensure their wellbeing.”

According to his office, the committee will “play an advisory role on the state of issues related to animal welfare and animal protection in Colorado.”