Some good bills in Austin

I wanted to let you know about 4 bills that will affect animal hearings in municipal courts. These bills are very positive for dog owners that get tangled up in some sore of bogus animal cruelty charges. These bills will give dog owners a much better shot of getting the truth out and they will take some of the power away from rouge animal control officers.

HB 963 and companion SB 541 affect animal cruelty hearings. HB 963 and SB 541 will soon be updated to provide that an animal cruelty hearing will be considered de novo at the county court after an appeal from municipal court, even if the hearing took place in a municipal court of record. HB 963 and SB 541 do not currently have this language, but will be changed soon, according to the bills' drafters.

SB 1850 also affects animal cruelty hearings and provides an animal's owner with the right to a jury trial and, again, provides that the hearing will be considered de novo at the county court after an appeal from municipal court, even if the hearing took place in a municipal court of record.

HB 2679 affects dangerous dog hearings. This bill provides the owner of an allegedly dangerous dog with the right to a jury trial and provides that the hearing will be considered de novo at the county court after an appeal from municipal court, even if the hearing took place in a municipal court of record.

These bills, which will greatly change how these animal hearings are handled will be a step in the right direction to protect the rights of dog owners. They may not seem like much but this is a big deal for anyone caught up in an animal cruelty case, it takes the power away from the JP's and gives you a clean slate after appeal and the choice of a jury trail.

Up-dates to follow.

Thanks,
Paul T