SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

February 20, 2003 Hearing Room 343

8:00 A.M. Tapes 35 - 36

MEMBERS PRESENT: Sen. John Minnis, Chair

Sen. Ted Ferrioli

Sen. Charles Starr

MEMBER EXCUSED: Sen. Charlie Ringo

Sen. Vicki Walker

Sen. Ginny Burdick, Vice-Chair

STAFF PRESENT: Bill Joseph, Counsel

Ann Martin, Committee Assistant

MEASURE/ISSUES HEARD: SB 255 Public Hearing

These minutes are in compliance with Senate and House Rules. Only text enclosed in quotation marks reports a speaker’s exact words. For complete contents, please refer to the tapes.

TAPE/#	Speaker	Comments
Tape 35, A
003	Chair Minnis	Calls the meeting to order at 8:12 a.m. and, lacking a quorum, convenes as a subcommittee for the purpose of hearing public testimony on SB 255.
SB 255 PUBLIC HEARING
011	Sen. Kurt Schrader	Senate District 20. Testifies in support of SB 255 which requires veterinarians to report suspected aggravated animal abuse.
030	Chair Minnis	Asks if, in his practice, he always has an assistant.
032	Sen. Schrader	Replies, yes.
038	Sen. Starr	Asks about Page 2, Section 7, subsection 2 of the bill.
048	Sen. Schrader	Clarifies this portion of the bill.
066	Dave Barrows	Oregon Veterinary Medical Association. Introduces Dr. Steve Brown, Newport, OR.
073	Dr. Steven Brown	Private Veterinary Practice. Submits testimony and testifies in support of SB 255 (EXHIBIT A).
111	Barrows	States that reporting is not mandatory, and explains that this legislation would apply only to aggravated abuse.
160	Sen. Ferrioli	Wonders about the Humane Society being in a category of law enforcement.

169	Barrows	Says that some employees of the Humane Society are quasi-deputized by the state to investigate.
176	Sen. Ferrioli	Expresses concern about this practice.
221	Chair Minnis	Asks for clarification of Page 2, line 10.
266	Lt. Randy Covey	Law Enforcement Division, Oregon Humane Society. Testifies in support of SB 255. Explains his position as a law enforcement officer.
362	Chair Minnis	Discusses the need for supporting evidence that there is a link between animal abuse and human abuse.
378	Lt. Covey	Says that studies have shown a direct link between animal abuse and human abuse, and will provide that information.
421	Sen. Starr	Identifies the testimony from Kelly Peterson, Humane Society (EXHIBIT B).
439	Jarod Broadfoot	Safari International. Testifies in opposition to SB 255.
460	Al Elkins	Oregon Hunters Association. Testifies in opposition to SB 255, specifically Section 7, subsection 2, lines 27-29, relating to trapping.
TAPE 36, A
003	Greg Addington	Oregon Farm Bureau. Testifies in opposition to SB 255.
021	Rod Harder	Oregon United Sporting Dogs. Testifies in opposition to SB 255.
032	Chair Minnis	Asks if a definition of persons sworn for law enforcement would be acceptable.
034	Harder	Says, yes.
036	Chair Minnis	Asks if Lt. Covey has a special title.
037	Lt. Covey	Answers that his title is “special agent.”
044	Sen. Ferrioli	Suggests how the definition might be written.
058	Kelly Peterson	Oregon Coordinator, The Humane Society of United States. Testifies in support of SB 255. Responds to the trapping issue.
091	Chair Minnis	Asks about reporting to the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
093	Broadfoot	Explains why he objects to the change.
102	Elkins	Says a veterinarian's report gives credibility to the report.
113	Addington	Stresses the need to see reports of trapping.
124	Bill Joseph	Committee Counsel. Asks what kind of traps are being used.
127	Broadfoot	Describes the variety of traps used.
138	Harder	Informs the committee that the Dean of the Veterinarian College appointed the chair of the commission to review trapping.
172	Chair Minnis	Closes the public hearing on SB 255 and adjourns the meeting at 8:55 a.m.

EXHIBIT SUMMARY

A – SB 255, written testimony submitted by Dr. Steve Brown, 2 pp

B – SB 255, written testimony submitted by Kelly Peterson, 3 pp