SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SSB 6263

              As Passed Senate, February 2, 1996

Title:  An act relating to the normal and usual use of equine and oxen.

Brief Description:  Using equine and oxen.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Agriculture & Agricultural Trade & Development (originally sponsored by Senators Morton, Rasmussen, A. Anderson, Hargrove, Swecker, Hochstatter, Prince, Sellar, Schow and Roach).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Agriculture & Agricultural Trade & Development:  1/18/96 [DPS].

Passed Senate, 2/2/96, 47-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & AGRICULTURAL TRADE & DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6263 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Rasmussen, Chair; Loveland, Vice Chair; A. Anderson, Bauer, Morton, Newhouse and Snyder.

Staff:  Bob Lee (786-7404)

Background:  The animal cruelty laws are enforced by law enforcement agencies and animal control officers.  Persons can be cited for animal cruelty in the second degree if they knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence inflict unnecessary suffering or pain upon an animal.  Persons can be cited for animal cruelty in the first degree if they intentionally (a) inflict substantial pain or (b) cause physical injury to an animal.

The animal cruelty law does not apply to the use of animals in the normal and usual course of rodeo events, customary use or exhibiting of animals at fairs, and commercial raising or slaughtering of livestock or poultry.

Summary of Bill:  Added to the list of activities to which the animal cruelty law does not apply is the normal and usual use of equine and oxen for logging, riding, showing, vaulting, driving or drafting purposes.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  The protections to horses and oxen users proposed in this bill will help prevent aggressive animal control officers from misinterpreting the animal cruelty laws in regard to the normal and usual use of horses.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Marlyta Deck, WA State Fairs Assn. (pro); Eddie Armstrong, WA State Horse Council (pro).