Upcoming Committee Hearings and Voting Sessions
Tuesday, May 8th at 10:00am
- House Environment & Agriculture Committee, Room 303 LOB, Executive Session – SB 370 (clarifying local enforcement of animal abuse statutes) will be discussed and voted on by the committee (while open to the public, public comment is not elicited during executive sessions).
Legislative Status Report
SB 370: Amended in the Senate to remove the original wording and replace it with wording that clarifies the current powers of law enforcement. The bill as amended in the Senate is intended only to make clear that local law enforcement has the jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute suspected violations pertaining to the domestic animal abuse statutes.
DOGS Position: Opposed to the original bill. Supporting the Senate amended bill to provide for clarification of local law enforcement jurisdiction to investigate complaints of animal abuse.
STATUS: Awaiting recommendation of the House Environment & Agriculture Committee. A copy of the bill as amended by the Senate can be obtained at http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2012/SB0370.pdf
HB 325 – Relative to the transfer of dogs, cats and ferrets.
HB 325, as amended, passed the Senate. Next step is that the House Environment & Agriculture Committee will either concur or non-concur with the Senate amendments. The House passed version of the bill allowed purchasers to accept a sick or injured animal if the transferee has knowledge of the sickness or injury, and requires that dogs, cats and ferrets being imported to the state for transfer be held for 48 hours at a licensed facility before being transferred in order to assess health status. The new Senate amendment only allows transfer of dogs, cats and ferrets that have non-contagious medical conditions. Still, the purchaser must sign a waiver and it must be sent to the State Veterinarian. Also, in addition to a licensed animal shelter, it allows the animal to be quarantined at a licensed veterinarian’s office for at least 48 hours.
DOGS supports the Senate amendment that prohibits dogs, cats and ferrets with contagious diseases from being transferred. Furthermore, the addition of using a veterinarian’s facility for quarantine provides an alternative to an animal shelter for the quarantine. A copy of the bill as amended by the Senate is available at http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2012/HB0325.html
HB 1362: As passed by the House, retains the current exemption from licensing and registration fees for service dogs and retired armed services dogs. The bill creates a one-time registration/licensing option for service dogs that have been certified as such and properly tagged by the governor’s commission on disability. It requires the Governor’s Commission on Disability to issue and administer service animal permanent registration tags.
The Senate Executive Departments Committee has recommended the bill for passage with amendment. The amendment requires:
- When applying for free registration or licensure, the owner must provide an identification card from a recognized dog training agency or if privately trained, the dog must have passed the Assistance Dogs International Public Access Test. The owner must also provide proof from a health care professional that the animal is required to assist the disabled person.
- After initial registration with the municipal clerk, the owner may obtain a permanent registration tag from the Governor’s Commission on Disability but the owner must comply with the municipality’s process for verifying up-to-date vaccination and residence information.
DOGS Position and Concerns: DOGS supports the exemption from licensing fees for service animals (currently in statute). Many of DOGS’ concerns regarding the procedure for permanent tags have been address in the amendment such as allowing town officials to require proof of up-to-date rabies vaccination.
STATUS: Passed the House with amendment (14-0 committee vote). Senate Exec. Depts. Committee recommends passage with amendment. Full Senate vote on 5/9. A copy of the amendment can be obtained at http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/amendments/2012-1991S.html .
