Tuesday, February 21, 2006
The End
The New Mexico Legislature ended their 2006 session last week and APV staff are nearly recovered.
The Animal Sheltering Services Act and the Land, Wildlife and Clean Energy Act were two APV priorities that failed to pass. Both bills lost traction on fiscal ground: The Animal Sheltering Services Act did not recieve the needed appropriation to operate the board that would have been created under the act, leaving the bill bogged down in the House Appropriations and Finance Committee. The Land, Wildlife and Clean Energy Act had its long-term, sustainable funding mechanism stripped from the bill by the legislature, essentially gutting the intent of the effort.
On a positive note, the legislature took aim at renegade hunters, barring computer-assisted hunting and providing for civil penalties for unlawful trophy hunting. It is expected that Governor Richardson will sign both of those measures.
Also on the governor's desk are two money bills that could benefit animals. The capital outlay bills--which funds "brick and mortar" projects from the severance tax--includes nearly $1 million for both stationary and mobile spay-neuter clinics and $2 million for local animal shelters and animal control agencies. The "junior" budget bill contains $400,000 for statewide spay-neuter projects. The governor has line-item veto power so the final amount awarded to the animals won't be known until he signs the bills.
Two memorials--non-binding legislation--also passed in support of animals. One requests the state department of public safety to create guidelines on evacuation of companion animals during disasters and the other requests improved wild horse management by both the state and federal government.
Thank you to all who contacted their legislators in support of animal protection legislation.
The Animal Sheltering Services Act and the Land, Wildlife and Clean Energy Act were two APV priorities that failed to pass. Both bills lost traction on fiscal ground: The Animal Sheltering Services Act did not recieve the needed appropriation to operate the board that would have been created under the act, leaving the bill bogged down in the House Appropriations and Finance Committee. The Land, Wildlife and Clean Energy Act had its long-term, sustainable funding mechanism stripped from the bill by the legislature, essentially gutting the intent of the effort.
On a positive note, the legislature took aim at renegade hunters, barring computer-assisted hunting and providing for civil penalties for unlawful trophy hunting. It is expected that Governor Richardson will sign both of those measures.
Also on the governor's desk are two money bills that could benefit animals. The capital outlay bills--which funds "brick and mortar" projects from the severance tax--includes nearly $1 million for both stationary and mobile spay-neuter clinics and $2 million for local animal shelters and animal control agencies. The "junior" budget bill contains $400,000 for statewide spay-neuter projects. The governor has line-item veto power so the final amount awarded to the animals won't be known until he signs the bills.
Two memorials--non-binding legislation--also passed in support of animals. One requests the state department of public safety to create guidelines on evacuation of companion animals during disasters and the other requests improved wild horse management by both the state and federal government.
Thank you to all who contacted their legislators in support of animal protection legislation.
