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Title: RPOA - OPPOSE TX HB 963 Seizure Bill - Committee Hearing Monday 4/11/2011! Post by: jls41 on April 08, 2011, 08:04:03 am We have seen the likes of this bill once before and it was repealed in the last legislative session.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.us Vice Chair: Rep. Tryon D. Lewis Phone: (512) 463-0546 Fax: (512) 463-8067 tryon.lewis@house.state.tx.us Rep. Dwayne Bohac Phone: (512) 463-0727 Fax: (512) 463-0681 dwayne.bohac@house.state.tx.us Rep. Joaquin Castro Phone: (512) 463-0669 Fax: (512) 463-5074 joaquin.castro@house.state.tx.us Rep. Sarah Davis Phone: (512) 463-0389 Fax: (512) 463-1374 sarah.davis@house.state.tx.us Rep. Will Hartnett (HB 963 Sponsor) Phone: (512) 463-0576 Fax: (512) 463-7827 will.hartnett@house.state.tx.us Rep. Jerry Madden Phone: (512) 463-0544 Fax: (512) 463-9974 jerry.madden@house.state.tx.us Rep. Richard Pena Raymond Phone: (512) 463-0558 Fax: (512) 463-6296 richard.raymond@house.state.tx.us Rep. Connie Scott Phone: (512) 463-0462 Fax: (512) 463-1705 connie.scott@house.state.tx.us Rep. Senfronia Thompson Phone: (512) 463-0720 Fax: (512) 463-6306 senfronia.thompson@house.state.tx.us Rep. Beverly Woolley Phone: (512) 463-0696 Fax: (512) 463-9333 beverly.woolley@house.state.tx.us |