Page 1 of 330 The Monthly National Legislation Report 7/5/2010 ...

The Monthly National Legislation Reporthttp://mnlreport.typepad.com/Page 269 of 3307/5/2010HF573 - A bill for an act relating to companion animals; creating a required permit for certain dog and cat breedersHF630 - A bill for an act relating to animals; eliminating a restriction on assistance by counties and cities to certain societies for the prevention of cruelty to animalsSaint Paul - (1/28/09) - Because Minnesota has some of the largest pet-breeding facilities in the nation, animal rights advocates are pushing for state oversight. Unlike about half thestates in the nation, there is none. One bill, presented by Sen. Don Betzold, DFL-Fridley, and supported by many animal rights advocates, requires annual inspections and certification bythe Minnesota Board of Animal Health. One of the biggest bones to pick was its range: Breeders with six breeding females or more would be affected. Another bill, presented by Sen.Steve Dille, R-Dassel, carrying larger support from breeders, would require no mandatory inspections. Breeders would be required to register with a local agency every four years, andinspections would be complaint-based, unless a county decided otherwise. A third bill, similar to Betzold's, is anticipated in coming weeks. Drafted by Mike Fry, director of the AnimalArk no-kill shelter in Hastings, the bill would affect only breeders who own 40 dogs or more. Fry said he's met with dozens of smaller breeders and written something they would support.In the end, the Betzold bill was tabled; Dille never called for a vote.West Saint Paul - proposed ordinance will reflects recent changes to state laws regarding animals and dangerous dogs, including more restrictive requirements for dangerous dog owners.Will require renters with potentially dangerous or dangerous dogs to notify the property owner that a dangerous dog will be living on the premises.MISSISSIPPINo Report for MississippiMISSOURIBranson - (1/28/09) - Branson aldermen talked about animal licensing at length during their recent study session. The board is considering a change in the city ordinance regardinganimal control which would eliminate the need for cat and dog owners to obtain an annual $15 pet license. However, pet owners would still be required to have their dogs and catsvaccinated against rabies. City Administrator Dean Kruithoff said it costs more money to administer pet licenses than the revenue coming in. The proposed amendment to the ordinancewould also require that pet owners must ensure the animal is always wearing a collar with the rabies tag unless the animal has been equipped with a chip. Following rewriting by the cityattorney’s office, the pet licensing bill will most likely be presented to aldermen for passage in late February.MONTANASB221 - A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT INCLUDING COMPANION ANIMAL HOARDING IN THE OFFENSE OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS; PROVIDING THAT A PERSON CONVICTED OFCOMPANION ANIMAL HOARDINGSB289 - A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT INCLUDING HARASSING, KILLING, OR INJURING POULTRY AS A BASIS FOR DECLARING A DOG A PUBLIC NUISANCE AND KILLING IT; REQUIRINGTHE OWNER OF A DOG HARASSING, KILLING, OR INJURING POULTRY TO BE CHARGED WITH A MISDEMEANOR Reading Indefinitely Postponed - Probably DEADBillings - (2/12/09) - After numerous attempts to address puppy mills in Montana, state lawmakers will consider a bill that would establish new health standards for dogs. House Bill No.548 is known as the Puppy Provider Bill. It would require breeders, pet shops and any other facilities that sell dogs to be subject to an annual inspection. The Humane Society's DavePauli supports the bill.Billings - (2/16/09) - Sen. Mitch Tropila, D-Great Falls, introduced a bill that would add hoarding to the state's list of animal cruelty offenses, and Rep. Dave McAlpin, D-Missoula, isintroducing a bill that would require commercial breeders - those with 20 or more adult dogs - to register with the state and submit to annual surprise inspections. Registration wouldcome with a $415 biannual fee to cover the cost of inspections. "We're not going after the mom-and-pop breeders here," McAlpin said. "We're going after the large commercial breeders."Regulations for dog kennels and licensing vary by county and community. McAlpin's bill does not aim to replace any local regulations but adds a new layer of oversight. In Billings, anyonewho owns more than four dogs or four cats is required to have a permit, which allows the city to inspect the animals' care in cases where abuse may be suspected. The permit is $30 andrequires a license for each dog. Klein said about 50 city residents have permits, and no problems with questionable breeders have been reported in Billings.NEBRASKALB494 - AN ACT relating to dangerous dog laws in NebraskaNEVADAAB172 - AN ACT relating to licence plates; requiring certain charitable organizations which receive proceeds from special license plates to provide additional organizational informationannually to certain entities. Referred to Committee on TransportationSB132 - AN ACT relating to animals; preventing a person from restraining a dog on a certain manner; requiring state emergency management plan and certain plans for emergencyoperations to include provisions concerning the evacuation, transporting and sheltering of service animals during disaster or evacuation; providing a penalty; and providing other matterproperly relating thereto: Referred to Committee on Natural ResourcesSB133 - AN ACT relating to animals; prohibiting as person from possessing a animal with intent to use the animal in a fight with another animal or to engage in certain other prohibitedacts Referred to Committee on Natural ResourcesNEW HAMPSHIREHB427 - AN ACT relative to equine licensesNEW MEXICO(1/28/09) - (We couldn't help ourselves and HAD to post this one !) - New Mexico lawmakers have delayed a decision on allowing webcasts of committee meetings in part becausewebcasts might show some lawmakers dozing off. The House Rules Committee created a subpanel to study the proposal, which has wide support among the committee. Onerepresentative said webcasts could encroach on lawmakers' privacy and capture embarrassing moments. "If I am sleeping and I am being recorded, that can be used as political gain," saidstate Rep. Ray Begaye. (Wonder if YouTube would be interested in creating a special section for embarrassing legislative moments, where every belch, nose pick and nap is recordedand replayed for posterity. Now that's entertainment. In some places around the country, most lawmakers don't show up for committee meetings. So putting a webcam in thosemeetings would be like putting a bell on a cat, but in reverse. The bell lets know where the cat is, the webcam lets you know where the lawmaker isn't.)HB82 - AN ACT RELATING TO CRUELTY TO ANIMALS; CLARIFYING THE PENALTY FOR INTENTIONALLY STARVING OR DEHYDRATING AN ANIMAL TO DEATHHB0125 - AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE SPAY AND NEUTER PROGRAM IN SOCORROHB159 - AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL LAW; EXPANDING AND CLARIFYING THE CRIME OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS; PROVIDING A PENALTY FOR LEAVING AN ANIMAL IN A HOT CAR;INCREASING PENALTY WHEN CRUELTY CAUSES DEATH OR GREAT BODILY HARM; CLARIFYING THE APPLICATION OF THE PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE.HB265 - AN ACT RELATING TO ANIMALS; PROHIBITING THE USE OF GAS CHAMBERS FOR THE EUTHANASIA OF CERTAIN ANIMALSHB667 - AN ACT RELATING TO ANIMALS; BROADENING THE DEFINITION OF "DANGEROUS DOG"; ADDING NEW REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS; CHANGING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR