2008 LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY

GEORGIA CANINE COALITION, INC.  

March 28, 2008

   HB 301, the anti-dog fighting bill, unanimously passed the Senate today in the substitute form that came out of the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee on February 1.  This bill passed the Senate on March 12 with an amendment that was attached that day on the Senate floor.  Representative Bobby Reese, the House sponsor of the bill, felt this amendment was unacceptable, and so did we, because it required all dogs impounded in dog fighting cases to be spayed or neutered before the accused was found guilty or innocent.  The substitute bill passed  the House on March 27 with a vote of 163-2, amended with an amendment to remove the spay/neuter amendment.  It went back to the Senate on March 28, 2008 and Senator Rogers recommended accepting the amended bill.  The Senate then passed HB 301 unanimously.  It now goes to Governor Perdue for his signature.  In the state of Georgia, the law already requires that all dogs adopted from shelters or rescue groups be spayed or neutered. 

   SB 16 was stripped of its anti-dog fighting language on March 26 in the House Non-Civil Judiciary Committee with the consent of sponsor Senator Chip Rogers.  Language similar to the "electronic collar removal" bills HB 927 and SB 520 was added.  The new language does not include a misdemeanor penalty and adds a restitution of any associated veterinary expenses in addition to the restitution of the actual value of the dog in the event the dog is lost or killed as a result of the collar removal.  This bill passed out of the House Committee with a favorable recommendation.  

   SB 520 was introduced on February 27 and would make it a misdemeanor to remove tracking collar devices from dogs with the intent to prevent or hinder the owner from locating such dog.  This bill unanimously passed the Senate on March 5 and went to the House Game, Fish and Parks Committee.

   Tuesday, March 11 was "crossover" day and since HB 1194 (dog sales), HB 1060 (euthanasia), and HB 927 (electronic collars) did not pass either the Senate or the House before that date, they are dead.

   March 28 was day 36 of the 40-day Session.  We expect them to be in Session next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and finish Friday.

   We are extremely grateful to Representative Bobby Reese for his efforts with HB 301.  We are also extremely grateful to all of you who took the time to contact your legislators when we sent out our e-mail alerts.

March 12, 2008

  HB 301 passed out of the Senate today but the Senate added an amendment on the floor that is not acceptable. It requires all dogs impounded from dog fighting cases to be spayed or neutered before the accused is found guilty or innocent.  We expect the House to disagree to the attachment of this amendment, then we will see if the Senate will pull the amendment off the bill.  The General Assembly is in recess until next Tuesday, March 18, 2008.

   We sincerely thank all of you who contacted your Senators in response to our e-mail alert.

February 18, 2008

     HB 301 passed out of the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee with a favorable recommendation of its substitute and now goes to the floor of the Senate.  This is the anti dog-fighting bill that we have been supporting.  It passed the Georgia House of Representatives on January 28th with a vote of 165 yeas and 6 nays.  We will post on www.georgiacaninecoalition.org and send out an e-mail alert when we know the date of the Senate vote.

    House Bill 1194 was introduced on February 13, 2008 and is in the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee.  This Bill deals with veterinarian examinations, veterinarian certificates, and inoculations of dogs and cats either transported into this state for sale, or offered for sale within this state.  It also changes the definition of “Pet Dealer” so that licenses would be required for those who engage in the sale of more than 2 litters or 20 dogs per year instead of 30 dogs per year as the Georgia Law now states.  The GCC has serious concerns with this bill and therefore opposes it.

     House Bill 1060 was introduced on January 31, 2008 and is in the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee.  This bill deals with euthanasia in shelters, training and certification of certain persons authorized to euthanize animals, and the record keeping and public reporting of certain information by all rescue groups and those designated as a “public shelter agency”.  It defines a “public shelter agency” as “any facility operated by or under contract with the state or any political subdivision of the state for the purpose of impounding or harboring seized, stray, homeless, abandoned or unwanted animals.  Such term shall include any veterinarian or veterinary clinic which operates for such purpose n addition to its customary practice”.  The GCC has serious concerns with this bill as it is written and therefore opposes it.

February 1, 2008

      An anti-dog fighting bill, HB 301, was discussed at the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee meeting on January 31.  It passed out of the Committee and will now proceed to the floor of the Senate for a vote.  Please contact you Georgia State Senator and ask them to support the version of HB 301 recommended by the Senate Agriculture Committee with no changes.

     The Georgia Canine Coalition has been approached to support HB 927.  This bill will make it a misdemeanor to remove identification devices from dogs with the intent to prevent or hinder the owner from locating such dog.  We expect the current language of the bill to be changed to more closely follow that set forth in a similar statute in Virginia.  The GCC Board voted to support this bill when the new language is in place.

     We have also been approached concerning a bill which would give the veterinarians the option of not administering the required rabies vaccination in consideration of the health of the animal.  This bill has not been introduced.  After we see the specific wording of the bill, we will strongly consider the opinions of the GVMA and the CDC before deciding whether or not to support this bill.

January 29, 2008

     HB 301 passed out of the House Rules Committee on January 28 and was added to the House Calendar for that day.  It passed the Georgia House of Representatives with a vote of 165 yeas and 6 nays, and now goes to the Senate.  The Georgia Canine Coalition, Inc. recommends supporting HB301 to those living in Georgia.  Please check the GCC website at georgiacaninecoalition.org for updates as HB301 moves through the Senate.   

January 21, 2008