HCSHB489--CONFISCATIONOFANIMALS
SPONSOR: VanSchoiack
COMMITTEEACTION:Voted"DoPasswithHCS"bytheStanding
CommitteeonAgriculturebyavoteof15to1,with6voting
present.
ThefollowingisasummaryoftheHouseCommitteeSubstituteforHB
489.
Thisbillchangesthelawsregardingtheconfiscationofanimals.
Initsmainprovisions,thebill:
(1)Specifiesthatalawenforcementofficialmustseekawarrant
toenterprivatepropertytoinspect,carefor,orconfiscate
neglectedorabusedanimals. Currently,eitheralawenforcement
officialoradulyauthorizedpublichealthofficialcanseekthe
warrant;
(2)Prohibitsananimalfrombeingsterilizedbeforethe
completionofthedispositionhearingunlessitisnecessaryto
savelifeorrelievesuffering;
(3)Allowsathirdpartyapprovedbythecourttocarefor
confiscatedanimals;
(4)Specifiesthattheownerofanyanimalthathasbeen
confiscatedcannotberesponsiblefortheanimal’scareandkeeping
priortoadispositionhearingifatthehearing,thereisno
findingofabuseorneglectbythecourtandthecourtordersthe
animalsreturnedtotheowner;
(5)Requiresareasonablebondorsecuritytobepostedwithin72
hoursofthedispositionhearinginanamountsufficienttoprovide
forthecareoftheanimalandconsistentwiththefairmarketcost
ofboardingtheanimalinanappropriateretailboardingfacility
iftheowner,custodian,oranypersonclaiminganinterestinan
animalthathasbeenconfiscatedbecauseofneglectorabusewould
liketopreventdispositionoftheanimalafterthedisposition
hearingandwhilethecriminalcaseproceeds. Currently,the
owner,custodian,oranypersonclaiminganinterestinananimal
thathasbeenimpoundedbecauseofneglectorabusemayprevent
dispositionoftheanimalbypostingbondorsecurityinanamount
sufficienttoprovidefortheanimal'scareforatleast30days,
inclusiveofthedateonwhichtheanimalwastakenintocustody;
(6)Specifiesthatallanimalsconfiscatedmustreceiveproper
careasdeterminedbystatelawandregulations. Anyfacilityor organizationmustbeliabletotheownerfordamagesforany
negligentactorabuseoftheanimalwhichoccurswhiletheanimal
isinitscare,custody,andcontrol;
(7)Specifiesthatintheeventthatananimalownerisnotliable
forthecostsincurredwhilethechargeswerepending,thecostsof
careandtheliabilityforthelifeordeathoftheanimaland
medicalproceduresperformedaretheresponsibility ofthe
confiscatingagency;
(8)Allowsanownertodemandthereturnoftheanimalheldin
custodyifheorshepostedasufficientbondandisacquittedor
thereisafinaldischargewithoutaconvictionunlessthereisa
settlementagreement,consentjudgment,orasuspendedimposition
ofsentence. Anyentitywithcare,custody,andcontrolofthe
animalmustimmediatelyreturnittotheownerupondemandand
proofoftheacquittalorfinaldischargewithoutconviction. The
animalownermustnotbeliableforanycostsincurredrelatingto
theplacementorcareoftheanimalwhilethechargeswerepending
unlessthereisasettlementagreement,consentjudgment,ora
suspendedimpositionofsentence;
(9)Specifiesthatanypersonorentitythatintentionally
euthanizes,otherthanaspermissibleundertheprovisionsofthe
bill,orintentionallysterilizesananimalpriortoadisposition
hearingorduringanyperiodforwhichareasonablebondwas
securedfortheanimal’scarewillbeguiltyofaclassB
misdemeanorandisliabletotheownerfordamagesincludingthe
actualvalueoftheanimal.Eachindividualanimalforwhicha
violationoccursisaseparateoffense. Anysecondorsubsequent
violationisaclassAmisdemeanor,andanyentitylicensedunder
statelawmustbesubjecttolicensuresanctionbyitsgoverning
body;and
(10)Requires,intheeventthattheanimalownerisnotliable
forthecostsincurred,theconfiscatingagencytoberesponsible
fortheusualandcustomaryveterinarycostsandfairmarket
boardingfeesandbeliableforthelifeordeathoftheanimaland
formedicalproceduresperformedwhilethechargeswerepending.
ThisbillissimilartoHB2204(2022).
Thefollowingisasummaryofthepublictestimonyfromthe
committeehearing. Thetestimonywasbasedontheintroduced
versionofthebill.
PROPONENTS: Supporterssaythatthebillrequiresaspeedy
dispositionhearingtodetermineifanownerisliableforanimal
abuseorneglectandwillsavemoney.Thecostofcarefor confiscatedanimalscompoundsquickly. Oftenanimalownersforfeit
theirrightstotheanimalsbecausetheycannotpaythebondorthe
costsassociatedwiththelegalchallenge.
TestifyinginpersonforthebillwereRepresentative VanSchoiack;
MissouriFarmBureau;MissouriFederationofAnimalOwners;
MissouriPetBreedersAssociation;MissouriVeterinaryMedical
Association;MissouriCattlemen'sAssociation;andMissouriAnimal
HusbandryAssociation.
OPPONENTS: Thosewhoopposethebillsaythatthereisacurrent
appealprocesswhichmeetsallthestandardsofdueprocessoflaw.
Bothsidesofacaseneedtimetoprepareforatrialand10days
isnotenoughtimetogatherallnecessaryevidence. Inaddition,
therequirementtohanddeliverthenoticetoapropertyownercan
stalltherescueeffortifthepropertyownerdoesnotliveonthe
property.
TestifyinginpersonagainstthebillwereSaraSpease,Missouri
AnimalControlAssociation;HumaneSocietyoftheUnitedStates;
BobBaker;Flotron&Mcintosh;andAnimalLegalDefenseLegislative
Fund.
Writtentestimonyhasbeensubmittedforthisbill.Thefull
writtentestimonyandwitnessestestifyingonlinecanbefound
underTestimonyonthebillpageontheHousewebsite.