Bill Summary for Bill Number SB09-118

Date: 04/22/2009

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB09-118

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, LIVESTOCK, & NATURAL RESOURCES

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Moved a conceptual amendment to L.013 on line 16 t Moved amendment L.013 (Attachment A). The motion Moved amendment L.014 (Attachment B). The motion Moved amendment L.015 (Attachment C) to change the Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-118, as amended, to	Pass Without Objection Pass Without Objection Pass Without Objection Pass Without Objection PASS

03:27 PM -- Senate Bill 09-118

Representative Fischer, prime sponsor, presented Senate Bill 09-118 concerning the continuation of pet animal care regulation. The reengrossed bill continues the Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act (PACFA) until July 1, 2019, and the Pet Animal Advisory Committee indefinitely. Changes to the regulation of pet animal care and facilities by the PACFA program in the Department of Agriculture include authorizing the Commissioner of Agriculture to set fees and dates for licensing; adding a new facilities inspector; expanding the definition of pet animal to include rats and gerbils; allowing a person who breeds turtles to own turtles smaller than 4 inches; directing that fines collected for civil violations be deposited in the General Fund rather than the Pet Animal Care and Facility Fund; repeals the requirement that the commissioner consider the effect of a penalty on the ability of the person charged to stay in business; and requires each facility to display signs that contains contact information for the department. Representative Fischer answered questions from the committee.

The following individuals testified:

03:32 PM -- Dr. Keith Roehr, a veterinarian with the Colorado Department of Agriculture, spoke in support of the bill. He specifically expressed support for the additional FTE specified in the bill. Dr. Roehr responded to questions about the Commissioner of Agriculture's authority to set fees and current caps on fees, which are capped in statute at $350 per year. He also responded to questions from the committee about the provisions in the bill regarding owning and breeding turtles.

03:36 PM -- Douglas Johnson, representing the Colorado Federation of Dog Associations (CFDA) and the Colorado Springs Kennel Club, stated that the both organizations support the bill. He also indicated support for the additional inspector provided through the bill.

03:38 PM -- Joann Farrend, Colorado Association of Dog Daycares, spoke in support of adding an amendment that a representative of dog day care facilities be included on the advisory committee.

03:41 PM -- Holly Tarry, Humane Society of the United States, spoke in support of the bill. She explained that while her organization supports the passage of the bill, she still believes that there are problems with PACFA. She described instances of animal cruelty that she believed were a result of existing problems with the act.

03:48 PM -- Carmen Revord, a licensed dog breeder representing the Colorado Pet Association, spoke in favor of the bill. She described a number of improvements that she believes are still needed, including having the next sunset review in five years rather than ten years. She also discussed the need for term limits for members on the Pet Animal Advisory Committee.

03:55 PM -- Cristal Newell, Colorado Association of Dog Day Cares, spoke in support of the bill. She discussed her support for an amendment to include representation from the dog daycare industry on the advisory committee and why it is important to have the perspectives of that industry on the committee. She also described the hardship experienced by dog day care owners when they are inspected. She ended by expressing her support for the addition of an additional inspector in the bill. Ms. Newell answered questions from the committee.

04:00 PM -- Will Miller, a dog daycare owner in Colorado, spoke in support of the bill and also expressed support for an amendment to an add advisory committee member from the dog daycare industry.

04:01 PM -- Dr. Kate Anderson, State Veterinarian with the Colorado Department Agriculture, spoke in support of the bill and the provision in the bill that provides funding for the additional inspector. She explained the current composition of the advisory committee and responded to discussion about conducting another sunset review in five years rather than ten and the costs associated with an earlier review. She answered questions from the committee concerning facilities that are able to continue operating in spite of an animal cruelty charges.


BILL:	SB09-118
TIME:	04:09:37 PM
MOVED:	Curry
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.013 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Looper
		VOTE
	Gardner C.
	Hullinghorst
	Labuda
	Looper
	McKinley
	McNulty
	Pace
	Solano
	Sonnenberg
	Tipton	Excused
	Vigil	Excused
	Fischer
	Curry

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	SB09-118
TIME:	04:10:29 PM
MOVED:	Curry
MOTION:	Moved a conceptual amendment to L.013 on line 16 to strike "non-overnight". The amendment passed without objection.
SECONDED:	McNulty
		VOTE
	Gardner C.
	Hullinghorst
	Labuda
	Looper
	McKinley
	McNulty
	Pace
	Solano
	Sonnenberg
	Tipton	Excused
	Vigil	Excused
	Fischer
	Curry

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	SB09-118
TIME:	04:10:54 PM
MOVED:	Curry
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.014 (Attachment B). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Looper
		VOTE
	Gardner C.
	Hullinghorst
	Labuda
	Looper
	McKinley
	McNulty
	Pace
	Solano
	Sonnenberg
	Tipton	Excused
	Vigil	Excused
	Fischer
	Curry

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	SB09-118
TIME:	04:12:48 PM
MOVED:	Sonnenberg
MOTION:	Moved amendment L.015 (Attachment C) to change the sunset review date from 2019 to 2014. Kate Meyer, Office of Legislative Legal Services, explained the amendment. The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	McNulty
		VOTE
	Gardner C.
	Hullinghorst
	Labuda
	Looper
	McKinley
	McNulty
	Pace
	Solano
	Sonnenberg
	Tipton	Excused
	Vigil	Excused
	Fischer
	Curry

Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 2 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection


BILL:	SB09-118
TIME:	04:22:40 PM
MOVED:	Fischer
MOTION:	Moved to refer Senate Bill 09-118, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The motion passed on a 12-0 roll call vote.
SECONDED:	Hullinghorst
		VOTE
	Gardner C.	Yes
	Hullinghorst	Yes
	Labuda	Yes
	Looper	Yes
	McKinley	Yes
	McNulty	Yes
	Pace	Yes
	Solano	Yes
	Sonnenberg	Yes
	Tipton	Excused
	Vigil	Yes
	Fischer	Yes
	Curry	Yes

Final YES: 12 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS