Maryland Legislation 2012

GUARDIANSHIP BILL
HB 912 Domestic Animals - Pet and Animal Guardians
Sponsors Delegate Wade Kach (R, 5B) and Delegate John Olszewski (D,6)
HB 912 Changes variations of the term "own" to variations of the term "guardian" in certain provisions of law relating to dogs. Referred to Environmental Matters; Hearing scheduled 3/1

SAOVA POSITION: OPPOSE.
Unlike property owners,guardians do not own property that is the subject of the guardianship. At best, a guardian has a limited or temporary possession, as a trustee, of the property which in this case would be the dog. While activists claim that this promotes better treatment of animals this is not true. Rather than strengthen the relationship with animals and improve animal welfare, such changes in terminology will be harmful to animal welfare.

ANIMAL ABUSER REGISTRY
SB 301 Maryland Animal Abuser Registry
Senators Ronald Young (D, 3), Richard Colburn (R, 37), Jennie Forehand (D, 17); Katherine Klausmeier (D, 8), Richard Madaleno (D, 18), James Mathias (D, 38), Karen Montgomery (D, 14), Jamie Raskin (D, 20), Jim Rosapepe (D, 21), and Norman Stone (D, 6)
First reading 1/27; Assigned to Judicial Proceedings; hearing scheduled 2/22; hearing held - no action as of 2/29/12.

SAOVA POSITION: OPPOSE
Establishes Animal Abuser Registry. Database maintained by Maryland State Police and made available to the public online. Registrants remain in database for 5 years; annual registration fee of $50. All pet stores, animal breeders and shelters must check database before selling pets. Failure to do so is a violation of the law subject to $1,000 fine on first offense and $10,000 fine on subsequent offense.
SAOVA letter to committee

ANIMAL ABUSER REGISTRY
HHB 1020 Maryland Animal Abuser Registry
Delegates Frush, Barnes, Barve, Beidle, Bohanan, Bromwell, DeBoy, Frick, Gaines, Guzzone, Healey, Hubbard, Ivey, Kach, A. Kelly, Kipke, Lafferty, Love, McConkey, McDonough, Morhaim, Murphy, Nathan-Pulliam, Pena-Melnyk, B. Robinson, Ross, Stein, Summers, V. Turner, Valderrama, Valentino-Smith, and Walker
First reading 2/10. Assigned to Judicial Proceedings; hearing scheduled 3/14
SAOVA POSITION: OPPOSE

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