Legislative season is winding down. There are only two bills left that we are following. Please check in with web site and Facebook page to get the latest updates.
The Senate has a page about testifying before their committees. They also encourage people to email their testimony to the committee staff. You can attach a copy of your testimony and the staff will make sure it gets to senators on the committee. Please remember to copy DOGS (dogs.nh@gmail.com ) on your emails so we are aware of them.
**** Upcoming Hearing ****
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on HB1547 – prohibiting bestiality
- When: 9:40 a.m. Where: Room 100, the State House.
- Letters should be sent to the committee aide, Susan Duncan
DOGS POSITION: Watch
HB1547 was amended by the House to address our concerns. DOGS members will attend the Senate hearing to make sure that the exemptions for animal owners will stay in the bill.
Update on Recent Bills
SB415 – relative to the standard of care for dogs outside.
The Senate has passed SB415 and it will go The Senate Public and Municipal Affairs Committee listened to DOGS concerns and amended the bill so that RSA 644:8, III(a) will now say “Without lawful authority negligently deprives or causes to be deprived any animal in his or her possession or custody necessary care, sustenance, or shelter, including appropriate hydration” Additionally, the commission has now been changed to a legislative study committee which will “review the publication entitled, “Animal Cruelty Investigation and Prosecution: A User Manual for New Hampshire Law Enforcement” from the governor’s commission on the humane treatment of animals in order to identify if research dictates temperatures above or below which dogs should be brought inside or any other weather conditions which could be harmful to dogs. The committee may solicit the advice or testimony of any organization with information or expertise relevant to its study.”
Please thank the Committee for listening to our concerns.
HB661 – relative to record keeping for sold or transferred animals and making certain technical corrections to the law governing the sale or transfer of animals was voted Inexpedient to Legislate at the request of the sponsor.
