If you don't know about SB 779 read about it below. This is a bill that needs to be opposed not so much because of what it says but because of where it leads future legislation. They have suspended the rules to try and slip this through the house quickly. Make some noise today if you can.
Thanks,
Paul T
TX-RPOA E-News
>From RPOA Texas Outreach and
Responsible Pet Owners Alliance
"Animal welfare, not animal 'rights'
and, yes, there is a difference."
Crossposting is encouraged.
May 9, 2011
Texas SB 779 will be heard in the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee in
the morning, Tuesday, May 10th at 8 am.
All posting rules for the House committee public hearing were suspended in
hopes no one will show up to testify against the bill. Only YOU can kill
this bill with phone calls, faxes and emails! All committee members are
listed below with contact information.
SB 779 passed out of the Senate; is now in the House and relates to a
central database registry for convicted animal cruelty offenders 17 years of
age or older.
Texas Department of Public Safety will establish and maintain the registry
but the state's Fiscal Note admits there will be additional administrative
demands on local enforcement.
As usual the Fiscal Note claims there'll be "no" fiscal implication
anticipated to the State.
RPOA OPPOSES SB 779 BECAUSE:
1) This bill is a national campaign by Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF),
the animal "rights" organization seeking "personhood" for animals in the
courts and is modeled after the existing "Sex Offenders" Registry - for
humans, that is.
2) Houston Rockets owner, Les Alexander, is behind the bill and says he'll
"be chipping in big!" Is our state government for sale?
3) There is only one person in Texas serving solely for animal cruelty and
4 more offenders with a current conviction for Cruelty to Animals that is
not their Offense of Record. (Source: Susan Wolf, Sportsmen's & Animal
Owners Voting Alliance, SAOVA, Open Records Request) There is no need for
such a registry.
4) The bill creates another state bureaucracy at a time when budget cuts
are being made for human social services, public school teachers and medical
programs.
Please phone, fax and email all below tonight and all day Tuesday. It may
not be heard until later in the day.
Faxes are always best.
Texas House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee
Committee Clerk: Michael Pacheco
Phone: (512) 463-0768
Room: Ext. E2.112
Chair: Rep. Pete Gallego
Phone: (512) 463-0566
Fax: (512) 236-9408
pete.gallego@house.state.tx.usVice Chair: Rep. Will Hartnett
Phone: (512) 463-0576
Fax: (512) 463-7827
will.hartnett@house.state.tx.usRep. Jose Aliseda
Phone: (512) 463-0645
Fax: (512) 463-0559
jose.aliseda@house.state.tx.usRep. Cindy Burkett
Phone: (512) 463-0464
Fax: (512) 463-9295
cindy.burkett@house.state.tx.usRep. Stefani Carter
Phone: (512) 463-0454
Fax: (512) 463-1121
stefani.carter@house.state.tx.usRep. Wayne Christian
Phone: (512) 463-0556
Fax: (512) 463-5896
wayne.christian@house.state.tx.usRep. Yvonne Davis
Phone: (512) 463-0598
Fax: (512) 463-2297
yvonne.davis@house.state.tx.usRep. Eddie Rodriguez
Phone: (512) 463-0674
Fax: (512) 463-0314
eddie.rodriguez@house.state.tx.usRep. Bill Zedler
Phone: (512) 463-0374
Fax: (512) 463-0364
bill.zedler@house.state.tx.us
