Idaho Legislature
3/26/2010: The Idaho legislature will soon end it's current session, updates below tell the story of a year without meaningful changes to our State's laws regarding the humane treatment of animals.
S1317 Animal Cruelty
Sponsored by Senator Tim Corder (District 22, Mountain Home), this bill raises maximum fines for misdemeanor cruelty and neglect offenses, creates a definition of animal torture, and most importantly raises the penalty for cockfighting to a felony.
Read the full text of the bill here.
The Idaho Humane Society supports S1317 as an important step forward in improving Idaho's animal protection laws. Idaho Humane Society, along with other interest groups, continually reviewed and provided input on this bill during the past year. Although we greatly desire a felony cruelty and neglect penalty for severe cases of animal cruelty and neglect, and for repeat offenders, this bill is a step in the right direction. Securing a felony punishment for all animal fighting activity, including cockfighting, will be a tremendous victory for animal welfare in Idaho.
Position: SUPPORT
How YOU can help!: Please DO help Senator Corder pass S1317 but please do so by sending your written comments and/or emails directly to this sponsor rather than to other members of the legislature or to the agricultural committees. Senator Corder will distribute any supportive letters and emails at the very best time to secure a favorable vote. Senator Corder’s mailing address is: Senator Tim Corder, P.O. Box 654, Boise, Idaho 83701
Latest Update 3/26/10 : Unfortunately, this week Senator Corder conceeded defeat for this year in the attempt to pass S1317, a common sense and mainstream bill that was the result of lengthy discussions and compromise between many disparate groups including both those representing the agriculture industry and those representing animal welfare interests. Idaho Humane Society appreciates Senator Corder's efforts to pass this legislation.
Despite the outpouring of popular support from our supporters and many others throughout Idaho, and the near unanimous vote in favor by the Idaho Senate, Representative Loertscher, chair of the House State Affairs Committee elected to use his power to hold this bill in committee (preventing the bill from being voted on by the committee which would then send the legislation to the floor of the House for a vote to pass or reject).
Representative Thomas F. Loertscher (R)
District 31, Iona
House Seat B
1357 Bone Rd., Iona, 83427
Home (208) 522-3072
FAX (208) 522-1141
S1333 Free Roaming Cat Sterilization.
Sponsored by Senator Kate Kelly. S1333 was drafted by the Idaho Humane Society to ensure that organizations and good Samaritans throughout Idaho may continue to utilize the non-lethal feral cat population control method of humane trapping - surgical sterilzation - and return to their habitat. TNR (trap-neuter-return), provides an effective and humane alternative to the destruction of feral domestic cats.
Read full text of the bill here.
The Idaho Humane Society worked with Senator Kelly to create S1333 to ensure that communities and individuals can continue to utilize TNR in appropriate situations without risk of any conflict with the State abandonment statute Title 25-Chapter 35. S1333 is supported by animal shelters and animal control agencies throughout Idaho. Decreasing the population of feral domestic cats through sterilization decreases the burden these animals place on local shelters.
Position: SUPPORT
Update 3/26/10: S1333 will not be heard in this legislative session, the Senate Agriculture committee held this bill (preventing a vote on its merits) pending passage of S1317 (which did not pass, see above). The bill was opposed by the influential Idaho Fish and Game Commission. There is however, good news (and perhaps somewhat of a victory) that has come out of the Idaho Humane Society's efforts to address the issue of Trap Neuter and Return (TNR) of feral cats in Idaho. We were successful in securing letters of support from the overwhelming majority of municipal animal shelters and animal control agencies throughout the entire State of Idaho. These testimonials express support for humane, non-lethal management of feral cat populations through Trap Neuter and Return, and speak of existing successful partnerships between municipal animal control agencies and local volunteers currently providing TNR for their communities. These letters clearly demonstrate that the agencies directly responsible for enforcing the animal abandonment and cruelty laws do not consider the responsible return of sterilized feral cats to their environments a violation of the law.
The Idaho Humane Society is appreciative of Senator Kelly's efforts to pass this legislation.
Check back for updates on sponsors, bill numbers and hearing dates. If you aren't already a member, please join our Action Alert e-mail list!
Idaho State Legislators
State legislators work on issues affecting a state. Every Idaho citizen is represented by one senator and one representative in the state Legislature. Find your elected representatives in the Idaho Legislature: here. Contact your legislators: here.
Legislative Information Center
The Information Center, located at the Capitol Annex , is open whenever the Legislature is in session. Citizens can telephone, fax or e-mail the Information Center to leave messages for their legislators. Another important function of the center is to answer questions from the public about the Legislature and the status of legislation. The telephone number of the Information Center is (800) 626-0471 or email idleginfo@lso.idaho.gov
