HB 147-ANIMALS: PROTECTION/RELEASE/CUSTODY  1:42:43 PM CHAIR LEDOUX announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 147, "An Act relating to the investigation of cruelty to animals complaints; relating to the seizure of animals; relating to the destruction of animals; relating to a bond or security posted for the costs of care for an animal; relating to the inclusion of an animal in a protective order and the crimes and arrests for violating that protective order; and relating to the ownership of an animal upon divorce or dissolution of marriage." 1:45:09 PM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to adopt CSHB 147, Version 29- LS0302\C, Wallace, 4/4/16, as the working document. There being no objection, Version C was before the committee. 1:45:43 PM NICOLI BAILEY, Staff, Former Representative Max Gruenberg, Alaska State Legislature, was available to present the bill. 1:45:58 PM LIZ VAZQUEZ, Alaska State Legislature, was available to answer questions. 1:46:29 PM MS. BAILEY referred to the 4/6/16 Memorandum directed to Chair LeDoux from Megan Wallace, noting several changes, and asked whether the committee would like her to read the document into the record. She said, "As my former boss was often want to do, and Representative Vazquez was part of it, we did quite a few incarnations of this bill. And when he passed there were five amendments that he was going to add to the bill and they have now been incorporated in this new CS, from what I understand." CHAIR LEDOUX pointed out the explanation of changes is in front of the committee and she did not believe it was necessary to read it into the record. 1:47:53 PM The committee took an at-ease from 1:47 to 1:48 p.m. 1:49:02 PM REPRESENTATIVE VAZQUEZ offered, "That while this has been named the 'pet bill' for the record it was the passion of former Representative Gruenberg." She pointed to "serious fiscal issues that this bill brings forth," including: correspondence from the Municipality of Anchorage advising that its animal control spent over $100,000 during the years 2009-2011 in caring for animals seized due to neglect or cruelty. The domestic violence provisions and divorce and dissolution provisions provide judges with tools that will avoid lengthy litigation among the parties, will save time and money for private parties litigating, and for the Alaska Court System. 1:50:33 PM REPRESENTATIVE KELLER moved to report CSHB 147, Version 29- LS0302\C, Wallace, 4/4/16, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSHB 147(JUD) passed out of the House Judiciary Standing Committee.