Bill Summary for Bill Number SB06-025

Date: 01/24/2006

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB06-025

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Moved bill to the Committee of the Whole. Motion Moved to adopt prepared amendment L.001 (Attachmen Moved to adopt prepared amendment L.002 (Attachmen	PASS Pass Without Objection Pass Without Objection


BILL:	SB06-025
TIME:	02:12:59 PM
MOVED:	Hanna
MOTION:	Moved bill to the Committee of the Whole. Motion passed on a 7-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Bacon	Yes
	Entz	Yes
	Jones	Yes
	Kester	Yes
	Tochtrop	Yes
	Groff	Yes
	Hanna	Yes
Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

01:41 PM -- Senate Bill 06-025

Senator Owen, the prime sponsor of SB06-025 presented his bill. This bill modifies the dangerous dog statutes, Section 18-9-204.5 C.R.S., in several ways.
The bill extends the provisions of the dangerous dog act to include kennel workers, dog groomers, trainers, handlers, etc. from attacks by dangerous dogs. Also, the bill allows the prosecution of a dog following a first incident and how to handle cases where a dog is involved in a second offense with a different owner. Additionally, the bill increases the requirements on owners of dogs that are defined as dangerous to do the following:

post a conspicuous warning sign on the building on enclosure notifying others that a dangerous dog is housed there;
notify the Bureau of Animal Protection within the Department of Agriculture, in writing, when there is a change, transfer, or termination of ownership;
notify any canine service or treatment provider such as; veterinarians, pet groomers, trainers, humane agency staff, etc.;
notify any prospective owner, in writing, that the dog was found to be dangerous.

01:46 PM

Senator Owen responded to questions from the committee on a number of issues relating to changes to the dangerous dog statues addressed in his bill including; warning signs when a dog is classified as 'dangerous', court costs, and the court proceedings of adjudication, appeals and destruction order.

01:52 PM

Dr. Anita Knudson, from Coal Ridge Animal Hospital. Testified in favor of the bill and presented graphic pictures of a past dog attack on one of her employees, who was a kennel worker. Dr. Knudson informed the committee of problems in Article 18, which does not protect kennel workers, dog groomers, handlers, trainers from dog attacks. She also spoke to problems of Article 18 including dog owners having choice where to transport dogs prior to attacks and "same dog, same owner" provision, which nullifies the records of dangerous dogs upon transfer of ownership.

01:58 PM

Senator Groff addressed Dr. Knudson's concerns with transfer or termination of ownership. Senator Owen and Dr. Knudson ensured the committee that this bill did address this concern.

01:59 PM

Dr. Todd Towell, current President of the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association testified in support of the bill. Stating that veterinarians should be warned prior to handling dogs classified as "dangerous" and voiced support for a written notice by owners of dangerous dogs prior to receiving services or treatments from professionals. She also voiced support for the tracking of dangerous dogs, the first bite rule, the transfer of ownerships of dangerous dogs and the mandatory impoundment and destruction order of a dangerous dog upon a second biting. Dr. Towell submitted copies of her testimony to the committee (Attachment A).

02:04 PM

Jan McHugh-Smith, President of Colorado Federation of Animal Welfare Agencies, testified in support of the bill, specifically the disclosure portion of the bill that will require that dog workers, throughout the state, will be protected by the disclosure section of the bill.

02:06 PM

Janet Stephens, from the Colorado Federation of Dog Clubs, testified in support of the bill and also entered testimony in support of the prepared amendments to the bill (see Attachments B and C).

02:08 PM

Dr. Keith Roehr, Assistant State Veterinarian for Colorado Department of Agriculture and explained that the Department of Agriculture played a role in developing the language in the bill. Explained that the bill clarifies confusing statutory language which regarding the definition of a "dangerous dog". Dr. Roehr informed the committee that clarifying this language will allow District Attorneys, throughout the state, to prosecute dogs upon an initial bite. Dr. Roehr also addressed the change of ownership provision was a second key component of this bill and requested the support of the committee.

Senator Owen provided closing comments on the bill, requested the support of the committee and introduced prepared amendments L.001 (Attachment B) and L.002 (Attachment C).


BILL:	SB06-025
TIME:	02:11:32 PM
MOVED:	Tochtrop
MOTION:	Moved to adopt prepared amendment L.001 (Attachment B). Motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Bacon
	Entz
	Jones
	Kester
	Tochtrop
	Groff
	Hanna
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	SB06-025
TIME:	02:12:29 PM
MOVED:	Tochtrop
MOTION:	Moved to adopt prepared amendment L.002 (Attachment C). Motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Bacon
	Entz
	Jones
	Kester
	Tochtrop
	Groff
	Hanna
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	SB06-025
TIME:	02:12:59 PM
MOVED:	Hanna
MOTION:	Moved bill to the Committee of the Whole. Motion passed on a 7-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:
		VOTE
	Bacon	Yes
	Entz	Yes
	Jones	Yes
	Kester	Yes
	Tochtrop	Yes
	Groff	Yes
	Hanna	Yes
Not Final YES: 7 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS