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Minutes for HB2477 - Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
Short Title
Relating to the Kansas pet animal act.
Minutes Content for Thu, Mar 8, 2018
Chairperson Kerschen opened the hearing on HB2477.
Tamera Lawrence with the Revisor of Statutes Office distributed a memorandum to the committee which she explained.(Attachment 1)
Josh Roe testified in support of the bill. He believes that this will adequately fund the Animal Facilities Inspection Program within the Division of Animal Health at the Kansas Department of Agriculture.(Attachment 2)
Tucker Stewart testified in support of the bill if an amendment is added to restore the fee structure proposed in the original HB2477. He believes that this will ensure the continuance of a quality inspection program vital to the pet animal industry while also freeing up general fund money to be used to protect the livestock industry from a foreign animal disease outbreak.(Attachment 3)
Kimberly Pugliese testified in support of the bill. She believes that unannounced inspections maintain the integrity of the Animal Facility Inspection Program and ensure that licensees stay in compliance. This bill is important to protect the health, safety, and welfare of Kansas companion animals.(Attachment 4)
Midge Grinstead spoke in support of the bill. She believes that unannounced inspections are important to make sure that inspectors see what is going on in the facilities that are licensed. There is no prior notice of inspection in Kansas for state hospitals, nursing care facilities, child care facilities, restaurants, or liquor stores. The same should be the case for animal facilities.(Attachment 5)
Brandy Fannan spoke on behalf of Susan Hakes Kauffman in support of the bill. She believes that the state of Kansas should follow the same standards for breeders concerning inspections as our state hospitals, day care facitilies, nursing care facilities, restaurants , and liquor stores-inspections without prior notification.(Attachment 6)
Kelly Kultala testified in support of the bill. She believes that the improvements to the Kansas Pet Animal Act in this bill will help protect animals from abuse, prevent the spread of disease, provide consumer protection for those purchasing dogs in Kansas, and help Kansas improve an image tainted by being ranked as the second worst puppy mill state in the country.(Attachment 7)
Katie Barnett testified in support of the bill. She believes that unannounced inspections are the gold standard of any agency charged with ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Concerns about the owner or operator of the facility not being on the premises during business hours for an inspection is alleviated by having. in writing, a designated representative be present when the inspection is conducted.(Attachment 8)
Steve Hitchcock spoke in opposition to the bill. He is not in favor of the floor amendments that were added to the bill in the House of Representatives because he feels it changed the very nature of the bill. The fee schedule was modified on the floor to favor certain categories of licensees. He also feels that the House amendment micromanages the AFI program and substitutes a one size fits all statutory mandate for realistic policies developed in the rules and regulations.(Attachment 9)
Sara Meyers provided neutral testimony on the bill. She believes that fees for licensees need to be raised. Currently there is an legislative audit of the program being conducted and she thinks policy issues should be postponed until the audit is completed.(Attachment 10)
Written proponent testimony was submitted be the following:
Sherry Chavez-Wichita(Attachment 11)
Betty Nelson-Heart of Jackson County Humane Society(Attachment 12)
Melissa Driscoll- private citizen-McPherson(Attachment 13)
Jeannie Blanck- Griffith- CAT Board of Directors, Topeka(Attachment 14)
Deb Ghere- Emporia Animal Shelter(Attachment15)
Melissa Cox-private citizen-Wichita(Attachment 16)
Shelley Bonnell- private citizen-Wichita(Attachment 17)
Jennifer Sanders-private citizen-Wichita(Attachment 18)
Ginger Barr-private citizen-Auburn(Attachment 19)
Sarah Coffman- Wichita Animal Action League(Attachment 20)
Tamera Bauman- private citizen-Wichita(Attachment 21)
Shanti Leiker- private citizen-Wichita(Attachment 22)
Patricia Freeman-private citizen - Meridan(Attachment 23)
Debbie Blochlinger -All Breed Dog Rescue- Minneapolis(Attachment 24)
Sally Mayes- Friends of Animals(Attachment 25)
Judy Carman- Animal Outreach of Kansas(Attachment 26)
Laura Luckert- private citizen- Prairie Village(Attachment 27)
Cheryl Taskinen- private citizen- Wichita(Attachment 28)
Michael Chavez-private citizen -Wichita(Attachment 29)
Elizabeth and Taylor Gunneson- private citizens-Wichita(Attachment 30)
Candice Smythe- private citizen-Wichita(Attachment 31)
Amy Cox-private citizen- Olathe(Attachment 32)
Randi Carter-Beauties and Beasts-Wichita(Attachment 33)
Judy Dieker- Humane Society of the Flint Hills(Attachment 34)
Crystal Swan Blackdeer- Leavenworth County Humane Society(Attachment 35)
Leann Moore-Happy Paws - Pittsburg(Attachment 36)
Mary Kay Caldwell-Southeast Kansas Humane Society(Attachment 37)
Carla Lewis-Animal Control Association(Attachment 38)
Michelle Wilcox-private citizen-Wichita(Attachment 39)
Kelly Ghere- private citizen- Emporia(Attachment 40)
Heather Schwartz- Humane Society of Montgomery County(Attachment 41)
Khristin Vorias- private citizen-Wichita(Attachment 42)
Debbie Jo Miller-Companion Animal Protection Society(Attachment 43)
Written neutral testimony was submitted by Michelle Russell-Kansas Pet Professionals(Attachment 44)
After conferees answered a few questions from the committee members, Senator Kerschen closed the hearing on HB2477 and adjourned the meeting.
