We have seen the likes of this bill once before and it was repealed in the last legislative session. Looks like they are trying to get it passed again!! Everyone needs to contact the legislators on the list provided. Tell them you OPPOSE this bill!!!
Crossposting is encouraged.
April 7, 2011
Texas House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee has scheduled a
Public Hearing on HB 963 at the Capitol Monday, April 11, 2011, in Room
E2.010 at 2:00 p.m. or upon adjournment. Committee Clerk: Kari King, Phone:
(512) 463-0790.
HB 963 is relating to the costs associated with proceedings regarding
cruelly treated animals. This is a Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN)
bill, the same group that succeeded in getting a bill passed in 2003 to deny
Texas animal owners the right to due process with appeals in animal cruelty
cases. We were able to get an appeal process restored last legislative
session but more improvements are needed.
Just because an owner is accused of animal cruelty does not mean in every
case the authorities got it right. In 2009, Earnest Kearney (Kearney Feed
Store in Sunnydale) had 256 animals including rabbits, horses, sheep and
other livestock returned to him that were seized by SPCA of Texas. The
seizure came about because of conditions following many weeks of solid
rain. JP Gerry Cooper awarded the chickens and pigeons to SPCA of Texas and
charged Kearney an excessive amount of $12,000 for the investigation, care
and housing of the birds while impounded.
RPOA opposes HB 963 for the following reasons:
* The appeals process provides a system of much needed checks and
balances and should not be made practically impossible for animal owners.
* This is an attempt to prevent an appeal without changing the statute to
not
allow appeals.
* Requires the owner to pay 150% of estimated costs which makes it
profitable for animal shelters to go out and seize animals. The humane
organizations are always accompanied by media and post appeals for donations
on their websites, using animal seizures as fundraisers.
* The deck is stacked against an owner who is faced with trying to prove
they are not cruel typically up against animal control, representatives from
humane organizations that can include veterinarians and cruelty
investigators, a government attorney - all testifying against them.
* This bill is supported by the same organizations that stand to benefit
and who have been opposed to appeals: Texas Humane Legislation Network,
SPCA of
North Texas, Houston SPCA, Houston Humane Society, HSUS and similar
corporations.
Please contact all below and say OPPOSE HB 963 in the Subject Line:
Chair: Rep. Jim Jackson
Phone: (512) 463-0468
Fax: (512) 463-1044
Jim.jackson@house.state.tx.usVice Chair: Rep. Tryon D. Lewis
Phone: (512) 463-0546
Fax: (512) 463-8067
tryon.lewis@house.state.tx.usRep. Dwayne Bohac
Phone: (512) 463-0727
Fax: (512) 463-0681
dwayne.bohac@house.state.tx.usRep. Joaquin Castro
Phone: (512) 463-0669
Fax: (512) 463-5074
joaquin.castro@house.state.tx.usRep. Sarah Davis
Phone: (512) 463-0389
Fax: (512) 463-1374
sarah.davis@house.state.tx.usRep. Will Hartnett
(HB 963 Sponsor)
Phone: (512) 463-0576
Fax: (512) 463-7827
will.hartnett@house.state.tx.usRep. Jerry Madden
Phone: (512) 463-0544
Fax: (512) 463-9974
jerry.madden@house.state.tx.usRep. Richard Pena Raymond
Phone: (512) 463-0558
Fax: (512) 463-6296
richard.raymond@house.state.tx.usRep. Connie Scott
Phone: (512) 463-0462
Fax: (512) 463-1705
connie.scott@house.state.tx.usRep. Senfronia Thompson
Phone: (512) 463-0720
Fax: (512) 463-6306
senfronia.thompson@house.state.tx.usRep. Beverly Woolley
Phone: (512) 463-0696
Fax: (512) 463-9333
beverly.woolley@house.state.tx.us 
