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Committee advances H 841, removes 35-dog limit and asks animal director for breeder oversight plan
Summary
The Government Operations committee on May 7 voted to report H 841 favorably as amended (draft 1.3), striking a proposed 35-dog ownership limit and directing the director of animal welfare to propose a comprehensive program and oversight structure for breeders and sellers.
The Government Operations committee on May 7 voted to report H 841, "an act relating to miscellaneous animal welfare procedures," favorably as amended with draft 1.3, removing a proposed 35-dog ownership limit and directing the director of animal welfare to return to the House and Senate Government Operations committees with a proposal for an oversight structure for breeders and sellers.
The chair of the committee opened the session and described the changes in draft 1.3, including the deletion of the 35-dog provision and addition of a reporting requirement for the director of animal welfare. The chair said there had been conversations with Lisa Milot, identified in the meeting as the director of animal welfare, about next steps on a comprehensive animal welfare program.
A committee member moved that the committee "report H 841 as amended with draft 1.3 favorably," and the motion carried on a roll call. The roll call recorded Senators Clark, Morley, Bechostie, White and Caldwell answering "Yes." The committee recorded the bill as reported favorably and indicated it would proceed to the other chamber.
Under the amendment, the bill asks the director of animal welfare to report to both the House Committee on Government Operations and the Senate Committee on Government Operations with a proposal to develop a comprehensive animal welfare program and an oversight structure specifically addressing dog and cat breeders, sellers and people who own large numbers of animals. The committee did not adopt the numerical ownership limit discussed earlier in draft changes.
After the vote, members praised the work with the director. A committee member said, "We are lucky to have you, sir," in reference to the director's involvement. The committee then recessed and announced a continued discussion of S 324, the committee government accountability bill, would follow after the break.
The bill was reported favorably by the committee; draft 1.3 and the requirement for a director's report to both committees are the key changes the next chamber will review.
