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Minutes for SB503 - Committee on Judiciary
Short Title
Increasing the criminal penalties for knowingly and maliciously abandoning any animal in any place without making provisions for the proper care of the animal.
Minutes Content for Thu, Mar 21, 2024
Chairwoman Warren opened the informational briefing on SB503
Jason Thompson gave an overview of the bill and stood for questions. (Attachment 17)
Christy Fischer, gave the testimony for the Wichita Animal Action League, in support of this bill. This amendment allows a prosecutor to charge a defendant with a felony, rather than merely a misdemeanor, if the defendant knowingly and maliciously abandons an animal to deprive the animal of food or water with the intent of starving the animal to death. (Attachment 18) (Attachment 19)
Written-only testimony in support of SB503 was submitted by the following:
- Nika Orebaugh, Private Citizen (Attachment 20)
- Jeffrey Easter, Sedgwick County Sheriffs Office (Attachment 21)
- Joseph Sullivan, Chief of Police, Wichita Police Department (Attachment 22)
- Aaron Walker, President and Chief Executive Officer, Kansas Humane Society of Wichita Kansas (Attachment 23)
There being no further conferees, Chairwoman Warren closed the informational briefing on SB503.
Meeting adjourned at 12:52 p.m.
