The Connecticut Horse Council, Inc.

LEGISLATIVE ALERT #2--March 2007

The Connecticut Legislative session began on January 3, 2007, and runs until June 6, 2007. There are several bills that CHC is currently supporting or monitoring.

CHC SUPPORTS THE FOLLOWING BILLS:

SB 284 AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROTECTION OF PETS IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES: Statement of Purpose: To protect pets in domestic violence cases by authorizing a court to include a prohibition on harming a pet when it issues a restraining or protective order.

Notes: SB 284 is based on legislation that was recently passed in Maine, New York, and Vermont. This will permit judges to include animals of domestic violence victims in temporary restraining and protective orders so the abuser cannot sell, torture, have contact with or kill the animal. (horses/livestock will ultimately be included in this bill-CHC is currently working with senators). Of note: please ask your legislators to cosponsor this bill.

Update: Public Hearing—Judiciary Committee 3/5

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HB 5522 AN ACT CONCERNING TRAINING FOR MUNICIPAL ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS: Statement of Purpose: To establish a municipal animal control officer training program.

Notes: HB 5522 addresses a need for training of Animal Control Officers (ACOs). Currently, there are no education or training requirements for ACOs in the state of Connecticut.  ACOs have powers to arrest owners and to seize animals, and some carry weapons. They must also deal with rabid or diseased animals, loose animals (livestock, pets), dangerous or aggressive dogs, and investigate allegations of cruelty. This bill would provide them with the tools to deal with serious animal related issues in the course of their duties.

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HB 5595 AN ACT PRESERVING CERTAIN HORSE TRAILS IN CONNECTICUT: Statement of Purpose: To preserve certain horse trails in Connecticut.

Notes: 5595 names 26 specific trails within the state of Connecticut to remain open to equestrian access. CHC has a list of those trails on our website.

UPDATE: A public hearing was held on January 26^th. CHC members and others testified in support of the bill. We expect this bill to be voted out of the Environment committee and on to the House soon. If you have not done so, please contact your legislators and ask that they SUPPORT 5595.

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SB 30 AN ACT CONCERNING AN APPROPRIATION TO REPAIR AND RECONSTRUCT THE 4-H CAMP IN FRANKLIN Statement of Purpose: To repair and reconstruct the infrastructure of the 4-H camp in Franklin.

Notes: CHC believes in the importance of teaching youth, and 4-H’s role in encouraging learning.

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HB 6579 AN ACT CONCERNING FUNDING FOR THE CONNECTICUT VETERINARY MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIC LAB. Statement of Purpose: To provide funding to provide for surveillance of public health related diseases in animals.

Notes: CHC recognizes the important role the Diagnostic Lab plays in our community.

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CHC OPPOSES the following bills:

SB 1080 AN ACT CONCERNING THE IMPOUNDMENT OF ROAMING LIVESTOCK AND FLIGHTLESS BIRDS. Statement of Purpose: To enable animal control officers to impound roaming livestock and certain flightless birds, to establish an owner and keeper notification process, to establish fines for noncompliance by such owners and keepers and to enable municipal animal control officers to dispose of such livestock and flightless birds, subject to certain conditions.

Notes: This bill would apply to horses, due to the wording “livestock”. The Commissioner of Agriculture already possesses the authority to deal with animals & livestock. Currently Animal Control Officers (ACOs) have little to no training, see bill # 5522 above. Also, the cost associated with the care & keeping of the animals is not defined.

Update: Public Hearing-Environment Committee 3/9

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Additionally, CHC has been MONITORING the following bills:

HB 5464 AN ACT CONCERNING COMMERCIAL HORSE BOARDING AND TRAINING FACILITIES. Statement of Purpose: To ensure the safety of equestrians and horses at commercial boarding and training facilities.

Notes: This bill would have given authority to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to regulate commercial horse boarding and training facilities.

UPDATE: CHC met with the Representative who introduced this legislation. CHC now considers this bill inactive. No further action is necessary at this time.

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HB 1079 AN ACT CONCERNING DOGS THAT ATTACK DOMESTIC ANIMALS OR LIVESTOCK. Statement of purpose: To allow animal control officers to investigate and issue orders regarding dogs that attack domestic animals and livestock.

Notes: CHC has limited information about this bill at this time. We will continue to monitor its progress.

Update: Public Hearing-Environment Committee 3/9

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SB 994 AN ACT REMOVING JURISDICTION OF STATE PARKS AND FORESTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. Statement of purpose: To remove jurisdiction of state parks and forests from the Department of Environmental Protection and to create a new agency to manage such parks and forests.

Notes: CHC has limited information about this bill at this time. We will continue to monitor its progress.

Update: Public hearing held 2/9 in the Environment committee.

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Contact information for your legislators, as well as more information about these bills may be found at the Connecticut General Assembly website www.cga.ct.gov. You may also visit the CHC website at www.cthorsecouncil.org . If you have specific questions about these or any other bills, or wish to testify at the hearings, please contact CHC president Amy Stegall at legislation@cthorsecouncil.org

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