2010 State Legislation

Animal Protection Voters is busy up in Santa Fe at the 2010 legislative session, and is monitoring and if necessary, acting on the following bills related to animals:


SUPPORT:

HB 57 Livestock Crimestoppers Act
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Andy Nunez

This bill will establish a Livestock Crimestoppers Program. This program will be part of the State Livestock Board and will issue rewards for information that would assist in investigating felony level cruelty to livestock.


HB 73 Taking of Certain Animal Species
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Mimi Stewart

This bill would make it unlawful to kill an ungulate feeding on a landowner's property. This bill allows landowners two options for managing wildlife feeding on their property: 1) A landowner may request fencing materials from the Department of Game and Fish to modify existing fences to minimize crop damage caused by a species. The landlowner or lessee shall be responsible for the construction and installation of fencing materials; or 2) the Department of Game and Fish and the landowner may enter into a cost-share agreement to assist the landowner in reseeding, irrigation system improvement, or similar action approved by the Department of Game and Fish and will continue to allow wildlife access to the property.


HB 199 Amendments to the Family Violence Act
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Rhonda King

This bill will add animals to protection orders in domestic violence cases.


SB 76 Purchase Protective Vests for Police Dogs
Bill Sponsor: Sen. Howie Morales

This bill will allow for protective vests to be purchased for law enforcement’s K-9 units.

OPPOSE:

SB 24 Allowing for Dog Race Simulcasting at Licensed Racetracks
Bill Sponsor: Sen. Carlos Cisneros

This bill would allow dog races to be simulcast at licensed horsetracks throughout the state for the purposes of gambling. Greyhound racing is an extremely cruel industry. The simulcasting of these races would support live racing, which is currently banned in 26 states due to its cruel practices. APV will keep members posted as needed with regard to opposition to this bill.

Bills that APV opposes but have been tabled for the remainder of the session-no action is needed.


HB 61 Prohibit Wolf Re-introduction
Bill Sponsor: Paul Bandy

This bill proposed that the Department of Game and Fish not work in accordance with federal law on the re-introduction on endangered wolves without financial reparations to ranchers. Renowned wolf biologists spoke against the bill and it was tabled.