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Minutes for SB47 - Committee on Agriculture

Short Title

Amending the Kansas pet animal act.

Minutes Content for Thu, Mar 16, 2017

Chair Hoffman opened the hearing on SB47 at 3:33pm.

Kyle Hamilton, Assistant Revisor, Office of The Revisor of Statutes, provided an overview of SB47 and the statutes that it affects.  He also explained the amendments that were made to the original bill in the Senate.  (Attachment 1)

Josh Roe, Assistant Secretary, Kansas Department of Agriculture, appeared before the Committee in support of SB47. He briefly went over the Senate amendments and made three recommendation for improving the bill.  (Attachment 2)

Mike Beam, Sr. Vice President, Kansas Livestock Association (KLA), appeared before the Committee in support of SB47.  We support the increased fees in Section 13 of the bill for the animal facility inspection program.  The increase should results in more equitable distribution of funds for the animal disease prevention program and animal facility inspection programs.  (Attachment 3)

Maureen Cummins, Second Change Animal Refuge Society, appeared before the Committee in support of SB47.   This should address the persistent problems in the Animal Facility Inspection Programs.  The financial drain from "no-contact" inspection makes fee charged for substandard performance necessary.  (Attachment 4)

Tricia Freeman, President, Freeman Arabian Ranch & Rescue, appeared before the Committee in support of SB47.  This bill, as amended in the Senate, will close inspection loopholes by establishing a uniform inspection process for breeders and other facilities. (Attachment 5)

Midge Grinstead, Senior State Director, Humane Society of the United States, appeared before the Committee in support of SB47.  The fees established in SB47 for no-contact inspections and failed inspections will aid the department in recouping some of the costs associated with the program.  This will also encourage compliance thru a larger financial penalty.  (Attachment 6)

Susan Kaufmann, Board Member, Unleashed Pet Rescue and Adoption, appeared before the Committee in support of SB47.  As a healthcare administrator, I have experience hospital inspections from regulatory agencies with limit or no notice.  I believe that unannounced inspection will improve quality of care and provide consistency across all inspected entities.  (Attachment 7)

Written testimony in support of SB47 was received from:

Steven Hitchcock, Government Affairs, Kansas Federation of Animal Owners, appeared before the Committee in opposition of SB47.  My group is resigned to at least some need for the fee schedule changes and have no problem with the new sections regarding rescue networks.  However, we urge the rejection of the policy changes included in SB47.  (Attachment 27)

Rebecca Mosshart, Member, Kansas Federation of Animal Owners, appeared before the Committee in opposition of SB47.  This bill should be stripped of every change made in the Senate, except for the purposed changed to increase the licensing fees.  (Attachment 28)

Sharon Munk, Chairperson, Kansas Pet Animal Advisory Board, appeared before the Committee in opposition of SB47.   The Board has been discussing this law for the past five years.  The members support SB47 as it was introduced without the Senate amendments.  Why should the work of this State Appointed Board be swept aside by the desires of a national organization.  (Attachment 29)

Written testimony in opposition of SB47 was received from:

  • Lorilee Thomas, Breeder Representative, Pet Animal Advisory Board (Attachment 30)
  • Michelle Russell, Kansas Citizen (Attachment 31)
  • Robert Likins III, Vice President of Government Affairs, Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (Attachment 32)

There were no neutrals of SB47.

Conferees stood for questions from the Committee.

The hearing on SB47 was closed at 4:42pm.

Chair Hoffman adjourned the meeting at 4:43pm.