Proposed bill: No convicted animal abusers can foster, adopt kids

(WKBN) -- A new bill has been introduced in the Ohio legislature to prevent people convicted of abusing animals from fostering or adopting children.

State Senator Al Cutrona is sponsoring Senate Bill 164, and he says there's a correlation between animal abuse and child abuse. He says this bill is another step to help protect children and animals.

"If a person has been convicted, I find it to be essential to prevent them from being able to adopt or to foster," Cutrona said. "This is something that has been lacking in the Ohio Revised Code, and all this bill does is simply update that."

Cutrona has introduced a series of bills previously to address animal abuse in the state. The bill will head over to the judiciary committee before hitting the Senate floor.