05/10/2002 05:26 PM Senate JUD

                                                                                                                                
                    HB 489-CRUELTY TO ANIMALS                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MIKE  CHENAULT, sponsor of HB 489, said  it is well                                                              
documented that  animal abuse is a  precursor to child abuse.   He                                                              
said  studies by  the  American Humane  Society  and the  American                                                              
Psychiatric Association  strongly suggested  that a great  deal of                                                              
adult  domestic  abuse could  be  avoided  if animal  cruelty  was                                                              
identified  and treated as  a juvenile  problem.   He said  HB 489                                                              
would allow  prosecutors to charge  a person with cruelty  to each                                                              
animal  found to  be neglected  or  abused and  suggests that  the                                                              
courts  mandate behavioral  counseling.   He said  the bill  would                                                              
also create  the duty to  report abuse  to authorities and  hold a                                                              
person harmless if they reported animal abuse in good faith.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
6:00 p.m.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN  TAYLOR asked  if HB  489 would  have any  impact on  the                                                              
process of raising domestic animals for food production.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE CHENAULT said that was not his intent.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN TAYLOR asked if there were  any further questions.  There                                                              
were none.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  COWDERY  moved  CSHB  489(JUD)   out  of  committee  with                                                              
attached zero fiscal notes and individual recommendations.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
There being  no objection,  CSHB 489(JUD)  moved out of  committee                                                              
with attached zero fiscal notes and individual recommendations.