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MINUTES OF THE
SENATE JUDICIARY, LAW ENFORCEMENT & CRIMINAL JUSTICE
STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2008, 8:00 AM.
ROOM W135, WEST OFFICE BUILDING, STATE CAPITOL COMPLEX



Members Present:    Sen. Gregory S. Bell, Chair
    Sen. Jon J. Greiner
    Sen. Lyle W. Hillyard
    Sen. Mark B. Madsen
    Sen. Scott D. McCoy
    Sen. Ross I. Romero
    Pres. John L. Valentine

Staff Present:    Jerry Howe, Policy Analyst
    Karen C. Allred, Committee Secretary
    
Public Speakers Present:    Ken Wallentine, Chief of Law Enforcement, Attorney General
    Sharon Zaine, mother of Charlotte Hansen
    Gene Bairschmiller, Executive Director, Humane Society
    Anne Davis, Executive Director, Animal Advocacy Alliance of UT     Sheryl Herin Devereaux, Consultant
    David Reynolds
    Todd Bingham, Utah Farm Bureau
    Garrick Hall, Dairy Farmer
    Charles Hardy, Policy Director, Gun Owner of Utah
    Gregry Casill, Best Friends Animals
    Cheryl Smith, Utah Animal Adoption
    Jeff Stoddard

A list of visitors and a copy of handouts are filed with the committee minutes.

Chair Bell called the meeting to order at 8:07 am.

Chair Bell announced that S.B. 72 would not be heard today.     
1.     S.B. 183 Child Pornogrpahy Amendment (D. C. Buttars)

    Sen. Buttars presented and explained the bill.

    Ken Wallentine, Chief of Law Enforcement, Attorney General, spoke in favor of the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Romero moved to pass S.B. 183 out of committee with a favorable recommendation.


    The motion passed unanimously with Pres. Valentine absent for the vote.

2.     H.B. 256 Criminal Penalties Amendments -- Including Jessica's Law (C. Wimmer)

    Rep. Wimmer presented and explained the bill.

    Sharon Zaine, mother of Charlotte Hansen, spoke in favor of the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. Hillyard moved to pass H.B. 256 out of the committee with a favorable recommendation.

    The motion passed unanimously with Pres. Valentine absent for the vote.

     MOTION: Sen. Hillyard moved to place H.B. 256 on the consent calendar.

    The motion passed unaimously with Pres. Valentine absent for the vote.

3.     S.B. 117 Animal Cruelty Amendments (A. Christensen)

    Sen. Christensen presented and explained the bill.

Sen. Hillyard assumed the chair.

    Sen. Bell presented and explained an amendment to S.B. 117.

     MOTION: Sen. Bell moved to adopt the following amendment to S.B. 117:

1.    Page 5, Line 144 :    

             144      husbandry practices
  or customary farming practices       ; or


2.    Page 5, Line 147 :    

             147          (B) is not in accordance with accepted animal husbandry practices
  or customary farming practices       .


3.    Page 6, Line 153 :    

             153          (A) cared for in accordance with accepted animal husbandry practices
  or customary farming practices       ; and

4.    Page 6, Line 161 :    

             161          (iii) livestock
  that is cared for in accordance with:

    (A)     accepted animal husbandry practices for livestock; or
    (B)    customary farming practices for livestock  
; or


5.    Page 8, Line 233 :    

             233      in a manner not in keeping with accepted animal husbandry practices
  or customary farming practices       , intentionally, knowingly,


    The motion passed unanimously.

Sen. Bell resumed the chair.

    Gene Bairschmiller, Executive Director, Humane Society; Ann Davis, Executive Director, Animal Advocacy Alliance of Utah; Sheryl Herin Devereaux, Consultant; David Reynolds; Gregry Casill, Best Friends Animals; and Cheryl Smith, Utah Animal Adoption spoke against the bill.

    Todd Bingham, Utah Farm Bureau and Garrick Hall, Dairy Farmer spoke in favor of the bill.

    Charles Hardy, public policy director, Gun Owners of Utah and Jeff Stoddard spoke to the bill.

     MOTION: Sen. McCoy moved to amend S.B. 117 with the following amendment:

1.    Page 11, Line 314 :    

             314          (ii) vivisection
  necessary to protect the health or life of livestock       ;


    The motion failed with Sens. McCoy and Romero voting for, Sens. Bell, Hillyard, Greiner and Madsen voting against, and Pres. Valentine absent for the vote.
    
    MOTION: Sen. Romero moved to go to the next item on the agenda.

    The motion failed with Sens. McCoy and Romero voting for, Sens. Bell, Hillyard, Greiner and Madsen voting against, and Pres. Valentine absent for the vote.

     MOTION: Sen. Madsen moved to pass S.B. 117 out of committee with a favorable recommendation.

    The motion passed with Sens. Bell, Hillyard, Greiner and Madsen voting for, Sens. McCoy and Romero voting against, and Pres. Valentine absent for the vote.

MOTION: Sen. Greiner moved to adjourn

    The motion passed unanimously with Pres. Valentine absent for the vote.

    The meeting adjourned at 9:50 am.




        
_            _____________________________________
            Sen. Gregory S. Bell, Committee Chair