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.
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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 .
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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…
The House Executive Departments and Administration Committee has recommended that SB 132 be killed. The vote was 17-0. The full House wil vote on the bill on May 20th.
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.
UPDATE:
Public Hearing Update – SB 137 (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 this 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.
The April 16th public hearing on SB 137 was certainly a landmark event in the history of DOGS legislative advocacy. Senator Roberge, Dr. Crawford (the state veterinarian), Joyce Arivella, Jan Gardner, Jay Phinizy, Peter Marsh and the representative from Bedford Animal Shelter testified in support of the bill. Nevertheless, some committee members are concerned about the need to reach out to cat owners and those who are not participants in the state’s low-income programs that may need low cost spay/neuter services.
This coming week, please take a few minutes to send a brief note to the members of the House Environment & Agriculture Committee (see contact list below) urging them to support the passage of SB 137, as amended by the Senate.
Talking Points to include in your request to Support the new “SB 137″:
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Legislative Alert and Call to Action on SB 137
April 16, 2009 – Public Hearing
11:00am SB 137: Deleting Plan A from the state spay/neuter program. Public Hearing in House Environment & Agriculture, Room 308, Legislative Office Bldg., Concord.
YOUR VOICE is needed to urge the House Environment & Agriculture Committee member to vote to recommend SB 137 for passage.
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 this 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.
You are urged to attend the public hearing and sign in and/or testify to support SB 137.
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UPDDATE ON LEGISLATION
Bill that are still Active
HB 148: Relative to health certificates as evidence of the transfer of dog, cat or ferret. Requiring an annual vet statement for exemption from rabies vaccination.
Status: Passed House with amendment. Awaiting Senate Wildlife Committee recommendation.
DOGS Concerns: The definition of “transfer” needs to be refined in the Senate. DOGS submitted an amendment at the Senate public hearing. The State Veterinarian agreed with DOGS’ amendments.
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NEW DEVELOPMENTS
During the Senate Session on March 25th, Senator Roberge removed SB 137 from the table and offered a floor amendment. The amendment removed the “pet friendly license plate” language from the bill and replaced it with language that deletes Plan A from the state spay/neuter program. Plan A provided subsidies for animals that had been adopted from shelters to be spay/neutered. Senator Roberge put forth the amendment because she felt that during this economic downturn the need for low income families to have more access to the fund is very important. She noted that this change will provide for about 800 more animals to be served under Plan B for low income individuals. The new version of SB 137 is very similar to HB 1293 proposed by Representative Phinizy, in 2008, that was killed in the Senate.
DOGS supported HB 1293 and will support this revision of SB 137. A public hearing in the House will be scheduled shortly.
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