Increases Penalty for Animal Abuse
HB 1424/HB 1679
Sponsors: Rep. Burnett & Rep. Basye
Alliance Position: Supported
Status: Failed
Restricts the Use of Animals in Research
HB 1797
Sponsor: Rep. Hicks
Alliance Position: Supported
Status: Failed
This bill prohibits a public or private institution of higher education from carrying out medically unnecessary scientific or medical research on dogs or cats that would cause significant pain or distress. The bill prohibits state funds from being used on this type of research and includes a penalty provision of up to $50,000 for each violation.
Establishes Missouri Animal Abuse Registry
HB 1689/HB 1759
Sponsor: Rep. Burnett & Rep. Hannegan
Alliance Position: Supported
Status: Failed
Requires the Missouri State Highway Patrol to post a public-accessible list on its website of any person convicted of an animal abuse offense.
Establishes Missouri Animal Abuse Registry & Increases Penalty for Animal Abuse
HB 1425
Sponsor: Rep. Burnett
Alliance Position: Supported
Status: Failed
Enhances the penalty for animal abuse and requires the Missouri State Highway Patrol to post a public-accessible list on its website of any person convicted of an animal abuse offense.
Provides Treatment for Animal Abusers
HB 1320
Sponsor: Rep. Sommer
Alliance Position: Supported
Status: Failed
This bill allows the Court to order psychological or psychiatric evaluation and treatment for individuals who abuse animals. It also provides immunity to any person, including a veterinarian, teacher, and school personnel, who reports animal abuse to a law enforcement agency.
Establishes Animal Shelter Appreciation Week
HB 1325
Sponsor: Rep. Sommer
Alliance Position: Supported
Status: Failed
Designates the first full week in November each year as Animal Shelter Appreciation Week.
Protects Animals in Hot Cars
HB 1269
Sponsor: Rep Bangert
Alliance Position: Supported
Status: Failed
Provides immunity from civil liability for persons who render assistance to animals trapped in motor vehicles.
Allows Animals to Be Placed on Domestic Orders of Protection
SB 959
Sponsor: Senator Sifton
Alliance Position: Supported
Status: Failed
This bill would afford protection for animals in domestic abuse cases. Household pets often become pawns in the game of power and control that batterers use to coerce, control, and intimidate their victims. In a nationwide study, 76% of battered women reported that their abusers had harmed, killed, or threatened their animals.
Eliminates Disposition Process for Abused and Neglected Animals
SB 816/HB 2111
Sponsors: Senator Crawford & Rep. Anderson
Alliance Position: Opposed
Status: Defeated
This bill would effectively eliminate the disposition process for abused and neglected animals and allow the animals to remain in the hands of their abusers until the conclusion of a criminal trial. It also eliminates the authority of animal control officers from rescuing abused and neglected animals.
Prohibits Municipalities From Banning Cruel Animal Events and From Regulating Working Animals
HB 1752/SB 979
Sponsors: Rep. Spencer & Senator Wallingford
Alliance Position: Opposed
This legislation would allow numerous abusive practices to be inflicted upon working animals and permit cruel animal activities such as "horse tripping." It would deny proper housing and care of working animals and animals used in entertainment. While this bill is intended to allow carriage horse operators to operate without any oversight it also eliminates regulations on all working animals if such regulations are considered a "financial hardship" by the animal user.
