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Title: RPOA - Public Hearing TX HB 963 TODAY - 5/20/11 Post by: jls41 on May 20, 2011, 07:56:03 am Crossposting is encouraged.
May 19, 2011 ACTION ALERT! Public Hearing on HB 963, relating to costs associated with proceedings regarding cruelly treated animals, will be heard tomorrow, May 20, 2011, at 1:30 or upon adjournment in Room E1.016. Committee Clerk: Michaela Bernacchio Phone: (512) 463-0345 1) HB 963 is an attempt to make the appeals cost prohibitive. 2) Makes the appellant pay for investigation, expert witnesses and the costs of housing and caring for the animals during the impoundment. 3) This is an attempt to prevent an appeal without changing the statute to not allow appeals. 4) HB 963 empowers well funded organizations such as the SPCA and Humane Societies to be able to take animals without court approval by making the appeal bond so high that no one can afford it. This is a Texas Humane Legislation Network (THLN) bill. THLN passed legislation in 2003 which took away the right of appeal for owners whose animals had been seized under the Animal Cruelty Statute. Rep. Mark Homer was able to reinstate an appeal process last session and RPOA supported his efforts. THLN vowed to repeal Rep. Homer's bill this legislative session and this is the way they chose to do so. Please contact all below to OPPOSE HB 963 AS WRITTEN all day tomorrow as it may not be heard until late in the day: Senate Criminal Justice Committee Address for all senators: PO Box 12068 Austin, TX 78711 Chair: Sen. John Whitmire Phone: (512) 463-0115 Fax: (512) 475-3737 John.Whitmire@senate.state.tx.us Vice Chair: Sen. Joan Huffman Phone: (512) 463-0117 Fax: (512) 463-0639 Joan.Huffman@senate.state.tx.us Members: Sen. John Carona Phone: (512) 463-0116 Fax: (512) 463-3135 John.Carona@senate.state.tx.us Sen. Rodney Ellis Phone: (512) 463-0113 Fax: (512) 463-0006 Rodney.Ellis@senate.state.tx.us Sen. Glenn Hegar Phone: (512) 463-0118 Fax: (512) 475-3736 Glenn.Hegar@senate.state.tx.us Sen. Juan Hinojosa Phone: (512) 463-0120 Fax: (512) 463-0229 Juan.Hinojosa@senate.state.tx.us Sen. Dan Patrick Phone: (512) 463-0107 Fax: (512) 463-8810 Dan.Patrick@senate.state.tx.us |