Indemnity Bill Introduced in NM Senate
Receives Support from Doña Ana Co. Authorities
Three APV Bills Introduced in Session!
On January 21, day two of the 2009 New Mexico legislative session, two Animal Protection Voters' initiatives were introduced for consideration by lawmakers—both pieces of legislation are collaborative efforts with Attorney General Gary King's office.
Senate Bill 127 "Animal Indemnities" was introduced by bill sponsor Senator Peter Wirth, and is already receiving unfettered support in Doña Ana County from those who would be directly affected by the bill's outcome.
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Speaking on behalf of the proposed legislation to a reporter for KFOX television in Las Cruces, Robyn Gojkovich, Animal Cruelty Investigator with the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Department, said animal services in the county has to foot the bill for care and feeding of animals seized for their own protection. Taxpayers supply that funding.
Senate Bill 127 would place the financial responsibility for animals seized for their own protection on the owners themselves.
Read APV's fact sheet on this legislation.
SB127 has been assigned to the Senate Conservation and Senate Judiciary Committees. We hope to have a hearing soon. If you live in one of the districts represented by the senators listed below, we urge you to contact them immediately and ask them to support SB127.
Please contact the legislators listed above, ONLY if you live in their districts.
House Bill 159 "Animal Cruelty" was introduced by sponsor Representative Al Park, and will expand the definition of felony animal cruelty if passed by legislators. Animal Protection Voters crafted this bill as a joint initiative with the attorney general's office, to include several forms of cruelty to animals not covered in the scope of the existing law.
One of the most important amendments to the existing animal cruelty law makes it a fourth degree felony to cause injury to an animal, if that injury results in great bodily harm or death.
Animal Protection of New Mexico's billboard in Belen captures the reality of animals starving in New Mexico, and the board was again in the media after HB159 was introduced, as perfect illustration for that aspect of cruelty.
Read APV's fact sheet on this legislation.
HB159 has been assigned to the House Consumer & Public Affairs and House Judiciary Committees. We hope to have a hearing soon. If you live in one of the districts represented by representatives listed below, we urge you to contact them immediately and ask them to support HB159.
Senate Bill 185 "Spay/Neuter License Plates" was introduced to the New Mexico Senate by long-time friend of APV, Senator Mary Jane García on Thursday, January 22.
New Mexico's spay/neuter license plate, a specialty plate that drivers pay extra for, has not channeled funds into statewide dog and cat spay/neuter programs as it was originally intended to do. This legislation will amend language in the "Special Pet Care Registration Plates" law that will channel plate fees to a fund that will be overseen by the Animal Sheltering Services Board for spay/neuter work around the state.
Read APV's fact sheet on this legislation.
SB185 has been assigned to the Senate Corporations & Transportation and Senate Finance Committees. We hope to have a hearing soon. If you live in one of the districts represented by the senators listed below, we urge you to contact them immediately and ask them to support SB185.
Please contact the legislators listed above, ONLY if you live in their districts.
Related links:
KFOX14: Dona Ana County Animal Cruelty Cases Reviewed By Lawmakers
KOB.com:
Lawmakers look at toughening animal cruelty laws
APV's Fact Sheets (in PDF):
Indemnity
Cruelty
Spay/Neuter License Plates
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Do You Know Who Your Legislators Are?
Animal Protection Voters will ask you to contact your legislators to ask for support of our bills several times during this legislative session. If you're not sure who your legislators are, or how to reach them, we can help with that.
Go to the web site for the New Mexico Legislature and look up your legislators by clicking on "Members" in the top left box. Empowerment begins here!
Go forth and advocate!
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Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009 —
APV's Lobby Day at the Capitol!
Save the Date!
Click here for the full scoop on Lobby 101 training in Albuquerque on Feb. 17 and Santa Fe on Feb. 18, and a whole day of animal activism in Santa Fe on Feb. 18.
Then RSVP to Laura if you can join us:
laura@apvnm.org.
See you soon!
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