Animals play an undeniable part in all of our lives. Whether they are pets, farm animals or service animals, we interact with them in a meaningful way every day. This year the General Assembly considered a number of important measures concerning how we treat the animals around us. Some of these laws are intended to protect public health or our food supply while others are meant to provide greater protection for the animals. All of them are critically important to making the state a better, safer place. I have provided some information about many of these laws in this week’s newsletter. I hope it is of interest to you.
In the meantime, if you have questions or concerns that I can help you resolve, I hope that you will contact me. I’m pleased to do what I can to help any of you. Thank you as always for your interest in the work of the General Assembly and state government and thank you for your support.
Public Safety
_The state veterinarian can now implement emergency measures when there is imminent threat from a contagious animal disease that could spread rapidly and have serious consequences. (HB 1083 – S.L. 2009-103). Authorized measures include restrictions on the transportation of potentially infected animals, agricultural products, and other commodities into and out of potentially infected areas, restrictions on access to such areas, quarantines, emergency disinfectant, destruction of infected animals, and other control measures at portals of entry to the State. The state veterinarian was temporarily granted this authority in 2003, but the legislation was set to expire this year.
_The Legislative Research Commission has been authorized to study the development of a coyote nuisance removal program aimed at diminishing the threat presented by coyotes in the state [S.L. 2009-574, Sec. 2.57 (HB 945, Sec. 2.57)].
_Wild boar hunting season and the harvesting of feral swine are standardized under a new state law that also directs the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to study issues related to the importation of feral swine in North Carolina (HB 1118 – S.L. 2009-89). The department is expected to report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly in the coming legislative session.
Domesticated Animals
_ State law has been updated to make the inspection fees for ostriches, emu and rhea the same as for other meat inspections, removes domesticated rabbits from regulation under the Poultry Products Inspection Act, and makes changes to the exemption provisions for poultry processors in intrastate commerce (HB 1104 – S.L. 2009-102). Previously, a poultry producer could slaughter up to 1,000 chickens and up to 250 turkeys without an inspection, as long as the producer raised the poultry and didn’t sell it out of state. Under the new guidelines, a poultry producer who slaughters up to 20,000 chickens or 5,000 turkeys of his own raising and that are not sold out of state is subject only to basic sanitation requirements and periodic inspections. An inspector does not have to be on-site at the time of slaughter.
_The Legislative Research Commission has been authorized to study and evaluate the recommendations contained in the report to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations resulting from the Equine Industry Study conducted by the Rural Economic Development Center, Inc [S.L. 2009-574, Sec. 2.55 (HB 945, Sec. 2.55)].
_The Legislative Research Commission has been authorized to study ways to improve poultry worker health and safety [S.L. 2009-574, Sec. 2.61 (HB 945, Sec. 2.61)].
Pets/Service Animals
_A new state law assists owners in recovering lost pets, relieves overcrowding at animal shelters, and facilitates adoptions of animals from shelters (SB 467 – S.L. 2009-304). Among other things, the law establishes procedures for animal control officers to scan animals for owner information on microchips; requires that euthanasia be conducted according to rules approved by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, if such rules exist; and requires that, before animals are sold or put to death, they be made available for adoption under procedures that allow the public to inspect them, unless they are found to be unadoptable due to injury, health defects or temperament.
_Search and rescue animals are provided the same protections as those provided to law enforcement agency animals and animals that assist the disabled under a new state law (HB 1098 – S.L. 2009-460). Under the legislation, any person who knows or has reason to know that an animal is a search and rescue animal and who willfully kills that animal will be guilty of a Class H felony.
_Large constricting snakes and crocodiles have now been added to the list of reptiles of a venomous or poisonous nature that are already regulated under current law (SB 307 – S.L. 2009-344). State law now regulates the handling, ownership and sale of large constricting snakes and crocodiles, in addition to the hazardous reptiles that are already regulated under existing law.
Notes
_North Carolina tax officials stepped up their efforts and collected $427 million in back taxes from scores of businesses in the past six months. The Department of Revenue targeted 400 corporations with large outstanding tax bills and negotiated settlements with 236. The department had set a goal of collecting $150 million in back taxes. The additional money is expected to help cover any anticipated budget shortfall this year.
_Research In Motion (RIM), the maker of BlackBerry mobile devices, has confirmed that the company plans to open a research-and-development facility in the Raleigh area. It is presently unknown how many jobs the arrival of RIM will bring to North Carolina.
_ Power equipment manufacturer Husqvarna has announced that it will add 160 jobs and a $2.75 million expansion in Charlotte. Husqvarna is moving its North American headquarters from Augusta, Ga., to Charlotte. The overall average annual wage for the 160 new jobs will be $79,453, not including benefits.
Prepared with the assistance of the Speaker’s Office of Communications
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Regular Reports On What Is Happening In the NC General Assembly of Interest to citizens in District 51 by Representative Jimmy Love
