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.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
It's been a busy week...
Animal Sheltering Services Act makes strides.
SB 122 passed the House Judiciary Committee last night. The bill was the last heard by the committee and the only one they heard after their dinner break. A number of friendly-amendments were passed by the committee, mostly addressing language in the violations section the committee felt was too vague to be enforced.
These amendments mean that once the bill passes the full House, it needs to get concurance from the Senate on the changes made in the House. Before we get there, the bill must be addressed by House Appropriations and Finance Committee and the full House. It is a time crunch, considering the session ends on noon on Thursday...but not impossible!
Horses also made strides with SM 2
The Senate unanimously approved this effort to improve management of wild horses in the state. It requests the federal government to look at improving management of wild horse herds and to develop tourism programs at national wild horse territories and other wild horse ranges in the state.
Cyberhunting Blocked
A bill to ban computer-assisted hunting has passed both the Senate and the House and will soon be signed into law. New Mexico's Wild Friends did a great job of lobbying this bill and explaining what cyberhunting really is--remote killing of wildlife. SB 157 passed both chambers unanimously.
Spay-Neuter Funding
The House passed the junior budget bill, SB 414, with an amendment to include $400,000 for statewide spay-neuter programs. The bill now goes for Senate approval of the many changes made by the House. Money for addressing the dog and cat overpopulation crisis has wide support, so we are hopeful that the money will be contained in the final version of the bill.
SB 122 passed the House Judiciary Committee last night. The bill was the last heard by the committee and the only one they heard after their dinner break. A number of friendly-amendments were passed by the committee, mostly addressing language in the violations section the committee felt was too vague to be enforced.
These amendments mean that once the bill passes the full House, it needs to get concurance from the Senate on the changes made in the House. Before we get there, the bill must be addressed by House Appropriations and Finance Committee and the full House. It is a time crunch, considering the session ends on noon on Thursday...but not impossible!
Horses also made strides with SM 2
The Senate unanimously approved this effort to improve management of wild horses in the state. It requests the federal government to look at improving management of wild horse herds and to develop tourism programs at national wild horse territories and other wild horse ranges in the state.
Cyberhunting Blocked
A bill to ban computer-assisted hunting has passed both the Senate and the House and will soon be signed into law. New Mexico's Wild Friends did a great job of lobbying this bill and explaining what cyberhunting really is--remote killing of wildlife. SB 157 passed both chambers unanimously.
Spay-Neuter Funding
The House passed the junior budget bill, SB 414, with an amendment to include $400,000 for statewide spay-neuter programs. The bill now goes for Senate approval of the many changes made by the House. Money for addressing the dog and cat overpopulation crisis has wide support, so we are hopeful that the money will be contained in the final version of the bill.
Monday, February 06, 2006
Animal Sheltering Services Bill Passes Senate
It was no surprise that the Animal Sheltering Services Act, SB 122, passed the Senate with no opposition today. This is the third time it has passed that body and the second where it was unanimous. (the first year there were some politically motivated opposing votes).
The bill now goes to the House, which has already begun to discuss the issue...kind of. HB 227 was passed by the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee with no discussion. During a short session like this, the legislators often focus on discussing matters that need discussing and simply passing those that have universal approval. Everyone knows that our animal shelters are overwhelmed with homeless dogs and cats and need support.
The Senate also passed SB 157 which prohibits computer assisted hunting. Again, an easy issue. No one thinks you should be able to log onto your computer and kill an animal. Plus, the Wild Friends are behind this and that group of young people is a lobbying force to be reckoned with. Hopefully there are a few future legislators among them!
Then there are those so-called controversial issues, like cockfighting. Senate Rules Committee had told us SM 10, declaring cockfighting the state disgrace, would be on the agenda for Monday morning. Well, it wasn't and isn't on the agenda for Wednesday either. Please help us by calling the committee and asking for a hearing date. The number is 986-4746.
The bill now goes to the House, which has already begun to discuss the issue...kind of. HB 227 was passed by the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee with no discussion. During a short session like this, the legislators often focus on discussing matters that need discussing and simply passing those that have universal approval. Everyone knows that our animal shelters are overwhelmed with homeless dogs and cats and need support.
The Senate also passed SB 157 which prohibits computer assisted hunting. Again, an easy issue. No one thinks you should be able to log onto your computer and kill an animal. Plus, the Wild Friends are behind this and that group of young people is a lobbying force to be reckoned with. Hopefully there are a few future legislators among them!
Then there are those so-called controversial issues, like cockfighting. Senate Rules Committee had told us SM 10, declaring cockfighting the state disgrace, would be on the agenda for Monday morning. Well, it wasn't and isn't on the agenda for Wednesday either. Please help us by calling the committee and asking for a hearing date. The number is 986-4746.
