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Minutes for SB47 - Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
Short Title
Amending the Kansas pet animal act.
Minutes Content for Tue, Jan 31, 2017
Tamera Lawrence from Revisor of Statutes gave a brief presentation highlighting and explaining the various sections of the bill.
Bill Brown from the Kansas Department of Agriculture spoke in support of the bill. He believes that consolidating the licensees categories and adjusting the fees will make it easier for the Department to manage their programs. (Attachment 1)
Midge Grinstead from the Humane Society of the United States spoke in support of the bill. She feels that the first step in addressing the puppy mill problem is to strengthen the Animal Facility Inspection Program by adopting new statutory requirements with regard to inspections and enforcement. (Attachment 2)
Mike Beam from the Kansas Livestock Association spoke in support of section 13 of this bill. This section increases the fees for the animal facility inspection program which governs the Kansas Department of Agriculture/Animal Health Divisions regulation of dog and cat breeders, rescue networks, shelters, boarding or training premises, pet shops, animal distributors and other facilities.(Attachment 3)
Kelly Kultula from the Humane Society Legislative Fund testified in support of the bill. Their goal is to eliminate puppy mills. Their belief is that unlicensed breeders are using up a significant amount of the state's resources. (Attachment 4)
Kate Fields from Humane Society of Greater Kansas City testified in support of the bill. She believes that in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of companion animals in Kansas the state must make licensees accountable, change the fee to foster animals from $30 to $15, and eliminate registration with the state for offsite adoption sites.(Attachment 5)
Sara Meyer with BJ's and Guys LLC testified in support of the bill. Among her concerns is making sure there is is a means to fund the Pet Animal Advisory Board. She believes passage of this bill will provide the funding to keep this Advisory Board viable.(Attachment 6)
Written testimony in support of the bill was submitted by:
Kate Meghji,Executive Director of Lawrence Humane Society(Attachment 7)
Susan Hakes Kaufmann, a volunteer for 2 animal shelters in Kansas City area (Attachment 8)
Mark Eby, President of Wichita Humane Society (Attachment 9)
Crystal Swann Blackdeer, Leavenworth County Humane Society (Attachment 10)
Jennifer Burns. a municipal animal control officer in Newton, KS (Attachment 11)
Rebecca Mosshart testified in opposition to the bill. She and her husband Sam, who is President of the Kansas Federation of Animal Owners, have owned a kennel since the mid 1980s. They believe that if USDA exemptions are lost it will be the end of USDA licensed kennels in the state of Kansas because they cannot operate with two different sets of rules. (Attachment12)
Steve Hitchcock with the Kansas Federation of Animal Owners testified in opposition to the bill. He believes that this bill provides undue regulation and taxation of the animal breeders. (Attachment 13)
Written testimony opposing SB47 was submitted by Audrey Rottinghaus of Seneca, a kennel owner. (Attachment 14)
After a brief question and answer period, Chairperson Kerschen adjourned the meeting at 9:30 AM.
