The Connecticut Horse Council Legislative Alert # 2 March 2008

The Connecticut Horse Council Legislative Alert # 2 March 2008

www.cthorsecouncil.org

URGENT ALERT!

HB 5803 AN ACT CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR MUNICIPAL ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS.

This bill had a public hearing in the Public Safety Committee on March 4^th. It was then voted out of the Public Safety committee and on to the Environment committee. We are calling on our members to contact their legislators to urge them to support this very important piece of legislation. Currently Animal Control Officers in Connecticut are not provided with any training and there are no certification standards for the position. As you may be aware, CHC has pursued legislation for the last few years which would create a training program for ACOs. ACOs investigate cruelty, may seize animals, must deal with loose large animals, and dangerous dogs. Not providing basic training does a disservice not only to ACOs, but the animals, and the public.

Please contact your legislator and ask that they SUPPORT and/or cosponsor HB5803

Also please contact the Environment committee members below and ask for their support.

Representative Richard Roy Co-chair Richard.Roy@cga.ct.gov

Senator Edward Meyer Co-chair Meyer@senatedems.ct.gov

Representative Paul Davis Vice-Chair Paul.Davis@cga.ct.gov

Senator Andrew Maynard Vice-Chair Maynard@senatedems.ct.gov

Representative Clark Chapin Ranking Member Clark.Chapin@housegop.ct.gov

Senator John McKinney Ranking Member John.McKinney@cga.ct.gov

HB 5803 AN ACT CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR MUNICIPAL ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS.
Purpose: To require municipal animal control officers to complete training to be developed by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council and to be certified by said council.

To find contact information for your legislator, please visit the CT General Assembly website at www.cga.ct.gov. At the site, you will also be able to view the actual language of the bills, and obtain other information. If you have questions about legislation, or would like to testify at a public hearing, contact President Amy Stegall at president@cthorsecouncil.org. When speaking to your legislator, please remember to be respectful and polite, and include the bill number and your name and contact information.

Please also note the following general legislative update below:

CHC OPPOSES THE FOLLOWING LEGISLATION:

HB 5830 AN ACT CONCERNING “LIVESTOCK” DEALERS. Purpose: To replace existing cattle and swine dealer licenses with broader livestock dealer licenses, to define the terms livestock and livestock producer, to enable a licensed accredited veterinarian to conduct authorized tests for livestock diseases and to authorize the Commissioner of Agriculture to issue quarantine orders. The bill had a public hearing on 3/10.

***NOTES: CHC STRONGLY OPPOSES THIS BILL: It states that any person, copartnership, association, limited liability company or corporation who buys, sells, receives, exchanges or negotiates the sale, resale, exchange or transporting for a fee, transfer or shipment-- any “livestock” (which includes horses) must apply for a permit (at the cost of 150.00) from the Department of Agriculture, be subject to inspection, and keep detailed records on livestock and business transactions. This bill is too broad, and as written would apply to every horse owner who bought or sold a horse or two, or exchanged or transported horses for a fee.

HB 5829 AN ACT CONCERNING THE IMPOUNDMENT OF ROAMING ANIMALS AND PUBLIC SAFETY. 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. The bill had a public hearing on 3/10.

***Notes: CHC STRONGLY OPPOSES THIS BILL. This would allow ACOs to seize livestock found at large and take them to the local dog pound or other facility, and then dispose of the animal if it is not claimed within 7 days after a single notice is published in the local paper. ACO’s currently have no training on the care and handling of large animals, and the municipal pound is not an appropriate place for livestock. We also feel the notification process is too short: an owner may not see the notice immediately, especially if they are in a neighboring town.

CHC SUPPORTS THE FOLLOWING LEGISLATION

HB 5051 AN ACT CONCERNING FARMLAND PROTECTION FOR SMALL SCALE AND LOCALLY IMPORTANT FAMILY FARMS. Purpose: To protect and preserve small scale and locally important family farms.

HB 5139 AN ACT CREATING A TASK FORCE ON ANIMAL CRUELTY. Purpose: To create a task force to study the current offenses of cruelty to animals. Public hearing was held 2/25.

SB 39 AN ACT CONCERNING RESPONSIBLE GROWTH. Purpose: To implement the Governor's budget recommendations. (Note-this bill creates a Responsible Growth Cabinet comprised of various agencies including the Departments of Agriculture and Environmental Protection. Tasks of the cabinet include to support and encourage sound land use, and protect open space, farmlands and historic sites.)

HB 5137 AN ACT CREATING A CONSERVATION TAX CREDIT FOR INDIVIDUALS.
Purpose: To create a conservation tax credit for individuals who donate open space land.

HB 5197 AN ACT CREATING A CONSERVATION EASEMENT TAX CREDIT FOR INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYERS. Purpose: To create a credit against any income tax due for a taxpayer who donates a conservation easement of certain qualified land.

SB 071 AN ACT CREATING A CONSERVATION EASEMENT TAX CREDIT.
Purpose: To create a credit against any income tax due for a taxpayer who donates a conservation easement and thereby encourage land conservation.

SB131 AN ACT CREATING A CONSERVATION EASEMENT TAX CREDIT.
Purpose: To create a credit against any income tax due for a taxpayer who donates a conservation easement and thereby encourage land conservation.

HB 5452 AN ACT CONCERNING PRESERVATION OF OPEN SPACE AND AGRICULTURAL LAND. Purpose: To increase funding for preservation of open space and agricultural land.

HB 5198: AN ACT CONCERNING A SALES TAX EXEMPTION FOR FOR-HIRE CUSTOM AGRICULTURAL SERVICES, LEASED FARM EQUIPMENT AND LABOR TO REPAIR AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT. Purpose: To promote the economic viability of farming and preserve farmland and open space by providing tax relief to farmers for certain custom agricultural services, leased farm equipment and the labor associated with the repair of agricultural equipment.

SB 376 AN ACT REQUIRING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A LAND USE DOCKET.
Purpose: To require the courts to establish a land use docket to hear actions related to planning and zoning, inland wetlands and eminent domain.

HB 5827 AN ACT CONCERNING ANIMAL SHELTERS. Purpose: To protect the health and welfare of animals housed in animal shelters.

***NOTES: This bill would require that any “rescue” or “animal shelter” register with the state and allow the Department of Agriculture to inspect these places if they receive a complaint of abuse or neglect. Currently there is no oversight at all of rescues, and any person can declare themselves and animal rescue. The wording as defined would include horses by default.

CHC IS MONITORING THE FOLLOWING LEGISLATION:

HB 5602 AN ACT CONCERNING ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLES. Purpose: To require all purchasers of an all-terrain vehicle to pay a one per cent user fee, to create an all-terrain vehicle account to be used for trail maintenance, enforcement and administration costs of the Department of Environmental Protection and for grants to an all-terrain vehicle association for safety and education courses, and to require the Department of Environmental Protection to designate four trails for all-terrain vehicle use by January 1, 2009.

SB 126 AN ACT CONCERNING UNIFORM INSPECTION PROCEDURES FOR FARMERS' MARKETS, FARMS, FARM PRODUCTS AND FRESH PRODUCE.
Purpose: To promote uniformity in the inspection of farmers' markets, farms, farm products and fresh produce sold at retail by farmers in the state.

HB 5641 AN ACT CONCERNING CONSERVATION DEVELOPMENT. Purpose: To promote smart growth by authorizing municipalities to establish conservation development zones.

SB 580 AN ACT CONCERNING THE DUTIES OF VETERINARIANS WHEN PRESCRIBING PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS. Purpose: To require a veterinarian who directly dispenses a drug to the owner of an animal to discuss the nature of the drug and relevant factors concerning the administration of such drug prior to or simultaneously with the dispensation of such drug to the owner. Public hearing 3/12.

If any of the bills above are of interest to you, we urge you to communicate directly with your legislator: let them know your opinion.

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD: UNITED WE RIDE & DRIVE!