HB 1639 (Dog Tethering Requirements & Unlawful Taking)
House Criminal Justice Committee Schedules Vote.
The House Criminal Justice Committee has scheduled HB 1639 for a committee vote on February 9th or 11th. This clearly indicates that there will not be a subcommittee convened to discuss the bill further. HB1639 adds a new section to the animal cruelty laws that sets specific requirements for dog tethering. It also amends RSA 644:8, IV-a(a), the animal cruelty statute, to allow an animal, suspected of being abused or neglected, to be taken into custody without a warrant.
NEXT ACTION STEPS
If you have not already sent a note to the members of the House Criminal Justice Committee, there are still a few days to remind them of the problems inherent in the bill and why it should be recommended “Inexpedient to Legislate” (Killed). It is also a good time to start contacting your local representative to inform them about the bill and the need to for it to be voted “Inexpedient to Legislate”. Your local legislator and their contact information can be found here.
STATUS UPDATE ON OTHER BILLS
HB 1624: Breeder restrictions. On February 10th, the House will vote on the committee recommendation of “Inexpedient to Legislate”. Representative Groen stated in his report in the House Record describing why the committee voted 12-1 for this recommendation, “This bill will place undue restrictions on breeders and dog owners alike. The rules that would be applied are very generic and not breed specific, thus, dog owners could be charged with cruelty to their pets. Cruelty laws are already in existence in RSA 644:8, making this legislation unnecessary. Local animal control and law enforcement have the authority to remedy any abuses that may arise.” It is unlikely that the committee recommendation will be overturned during the House floor vote and DOGS appreciates those who contacted their local representatives to help insure that the bill will be killed.
Read more…
House Environment & Agriculture Committee Votes 12-1 to Kill the Bill
On January 28th, the House Environment Committee voted 12-1 to send HB 1624 to the house floor with the recommendation of “Inexpedient to Legislate”. Rep. Susan Wiley was the only vote in favor of the bill. Representatives Gandia, Knox, Tucker and Poznanski were not present. Representative Allen noted that a couple of the letters he received from supporters were identical but he received more letters from opponents that noted a variety of objections.
NEXT STEPS Read more…
Legislative Priority – this week – HB 1624 (Breeder Restrictions & Requirements)
HB 1624 is proposed as a bill to stop “puppy mills” but it will impose unnecessary and onerous requirements on responsible dog breeders.
If you have not sent a letter out to the members of the House Environment & Agriculture Committee in opposition to HB 1624 – Please do so immediately – and make sure to personalize it (begin with a different sentence than the draft provided in our previous email alert. For example: I am writing to ask, please pay attention to HB 1624, etc). Ask others in your network of contacts to send a letter and to fashion in their own words using any of our talking points that pertain to them.
NEXT STEP: Please plan to attend the public hearing (see time and location below). You can sign in opposed to speak or not to speak. If speaking, please contact Yvonne Nanasi, DOGS Legislative Consultant for assistance with your statement and advice about testifying at public hearings.
LEGISLATIVE PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED:
House Environment & Agriculture Committee
Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 1PM in Room 308
of the Legislative Office Bldg. in Concord
UPCOMING ISSUES:
Stay tuned to the DOGS legislative updates on other bills.
HB 1639: adds tethering of dogs for extended periods of time to the definition of criminal animal cruelty. More to come on the analysis of this bill next week.
HB 1417: allowing companion dogs in certain areas of restaurants.
HB 1525: relative to physical therapists practicing on animals.
HB 1562: Renames service dogs as assistance dogs, Provides an option for assistance dogs wear an identifying tag, Allows the advisory council on emergency preparedness to use New Hampshire assistance dog identification tag registration information to prepare for emergencies. The bill as introduced was requested for amendment by the sponsor to make the tag optional. . The NH Dept. of Emergency Preparedness, the NH Municipal Assn. and the NH Town Clerks’ Assn. have concerns with the bill. DOGS provided information to the sponsor and the Health & Human Services Committee at the public hearing that the bill has serious conflicts with the Federal Disabilities law that need to be resolved even if the tab is optional. The sponsor and committee members were very appreciative of DOGS’s input.
Thursday 1/7/10 -
The House Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on HB1562 – relative to assistance dogs. When: 2:30 p.m. Where: Room 205 of the Legislative Office Building, Concord
During the 2009 NH Legislative Session, DOGS earmarked some 20 bills that would impact ownership, breeding, training and working with dogs and other companion animals. Due to the involvement of our members voicing their concerns to legislators, all of the bills had favorable outcomes. The final dispositions of the major bills that we were involved in are summarized below.
DOGS is a NH non-profit organization and an American Kennel Club affiliated federation that represents NH dog and other companion animal owners. Our members are involved in all aspects of pet ownership. To become a supporting member of DOGS’ programs and our legislative advocacy efforts contact Joyce Arivella, DOGS President, at DOGS@NHdogs.org .
Read more…
The 2009 Legislation page has been updated with the results of the House and Senate votes. New Hampshire’s legislative season is winding down and the only animal related bills left are two that were retained for study of the summer:
HB 630: Prohibits live greyhound racing in NH. House Local & Regulated Revenues Committee
HB 431: Requiring certain engine coolants to include an aversive agent. House Commerce Committee.
Eliminating Plan A from the spay/neuter program
SB 137 had previously been the bill to create an animal friendly license plate to help fund the state’s spay/neuter program. Senator Roberge recognized that the license plate initiative needed more work and amended the bill on the floor of the senate to delete the license plate initiative. Now, the new SB 137 eliminates Plan A from the state spay/neuter program thereby providing additional funding for Plan B. Plan A allows the animal shelters to provide a voucher to reduce the cost of spaying/neutering a dog/cat that is adopted at a shelter. There are no income criteria for being able to qualify for a Plan A voucher. SB 137 retains Plan B that provides dog or cat spay/neutering for a nominal co-pay for persons that participate in certain low-income programs. STATUS: The House voted to pass the bill as amended by the Senate. The bill is awaiting approval by the Governor (it may take about 2 weeks to get to his desk for consideration). Read more…
Eliminating Plan A from the spay/neuter program
SB 137 had previously been the bill to create an animal friendly license plate to help fund the state’s spay/neuter program. Senator Roberge recognized that the license plate initiative needed more work and amended the bill on the floor of the senate to delete the license plate initiative. Now, the new SB 137 eliminates Plan A from the state spay/neuter program thereby providing additional funding for Plan B. Plan A allows the animal shelters to provide a voucher to reduce the cost of spaying/neutering a dog/cat that is adopted at a shelter. There are no income criteria for being able to qualify for a Plan A voucher. SB 137 retains Plan B that provides dog or cat spay/neutering for a nominal co-pay for persons that participate in certain low-income programs.
STATUS: The House Environment and Agriculture Committee voted 10-1 to recommend the bill for passage. A House vote is scheduled for May 6th.
Initiative to Merge Certain State Agencies
SB132 establishes a commission to develop implementation plans for merging the department of cultural resources, the department of agriculture, markets and food, the department of fish and game, the division of parks and recreation, and the division of forests and lands into a newly established department of natural and cultural resources; and transfers all law enforcement functions of those departments to the department of safety.
A copy of the bill is available at: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2009/SB0132.html
STATUS: House Executive Departments and Administration Committee Subcommittee voted to recommend the bill be “Inexpedient to Legislate” (killed). A full committee vote is scheduled for 9:45am on May 5th in room 306.
Initiative to Merge Certain State Agencies
SB132 establishes a commission to develop implementation plans for merging the department of cultural resources, the department of agriculture, markets and food, the department of fish and game, the division of parks and recreation, and the division of forests and lands into a newly established department of natural and cultural resources; and transfers all law enforcement functions of those departments to the department of safety.
The public hearing is scheduled in House Executive Departments and Administration Committee on April 23rd at 11:00am in room 306 of the Legislative Office Bldg.
This change will affect farmers, discourage growing a safe, local food supply, and anyone who is currently regulated by the Agriculture Department including dog, cat and horse owners will be impacted.
Please contact the members of the House Executive Departments and Administration Committee and ask them to Oppose SB132.
Contact information for members of this committee.
Some talking points to include in your request for them to oppose the bill:
- Less than 1% of the N.H. budget is devoted to the Department of Agriculture, but….
- NH Agriculture generates $935 million in sales and agricultural based tourism revenues and preserves over half a million acres which benefits NH wild life, its sportsmen and animal owners.
- If agriculture were considered part of the manufacturing sector, it would be N.H.’s second largest industry.
- The number of farms has increased 24% since 2002 (the highest increase in the nation). Agriculture is a success story and a growing industry
- If this bill passes, New Hampshire could become one of only 3 states without a real Agriculture Department.
Access to Recreational Trails and Byways – Musher’s Alert!
SB 203: Provides liability immunity for railroads who own, lease occupy or maintain a right of way for designated recreational use.
STATUS: Passed the Senate with amendment. Public hearing scheduled in House Resources Committee on April 30th at 2:30pm in room 305 of the Legislative Office Bldg.
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