GOV. RITTER SIGNS 3 ANIMAL WELFARE BILLS AND OTHER LEGISLATION INTO LAW TODAY

 

GOV. RITTER SIGNS 3 ANIMAL WELFARE BILLS INTO LAW

 

Gov. Bill Ritter signed several pieces of legislation into law today, including three animal-welfare bills:

 

HB 1304 (Solano/Schwartz), Illegal Taking/Possessing of Bald Eagles: This bill increases the penalties for poaching bald eagles in Colorado, with each violation now carrying a fine of $1,000 to $100,000, up to a year in jail, or both. Additionally, a fine of 20 license suspension points will be assessed. Colorado currently has 42 breeding pairs of bald eagles. Last year, the federal government de-listed the bald eagle as threatened or endangered for the lower 48 states, leaving penalties for killing, taking or possessing an eagle very low. This law gives the bald eagle the same status in Colorado as the golden eagle, Rocky Mountain goat, desert bighorn sheep, American peregrine falcon, and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep.

 

Photo Caption Information: Gov. Ritter signs House Bill 1304 into law while Sigrid Noll Ueblacker of the Broomfield-based Birds of Prey Foundation, state Rep. Judy Solano (far left), Sen. Gail Schwartz – and an eagle – look on.

 

HB 1200 (Soper/Tochtrop), Computer-Assisted "Remote Hunting": This bill prohibits computer-assisted "remote hunting," which allows a person to use a computer to remotely control, aim and fire a weapon at wildlife while the computer user is off site, even hundreds of miles away. Some private operators offer this type of activity to clients in other states. "Colorado has a long and proud tradition of hunting," Gov. Ritter said. "I believe that if you're going to hunt, you ought to be in the same vicinity as the animal you are hunting. It only seems right."

 

HB 1042 (McKinley/Brophy), Animal Massage Therapy Exemption: This bill expands treatment options for animals, creating an exemption to the Colorado Veterinary Practice Act for animal massage therapy.

 

Other bills Gov. Ritter signed into law today:

 

Bill #	Short Title	Sponsors	Date Action	Action
HB08-1042	Animal Massage Therapy Exemption	MCKINLEY / BROPHY	4/3/2008	Signed
HB08-1057	Tourist-Oriented Signs Along Rural Hwys	SONNENBERG / WILLIAMS	4/3/2008	Signed
HB08-1063	Mental Health MCO Capitated Payments	PRIMAVERA / ISGAR	4/3/2008	Signed
HB08-1147	Witness Protection Training Report	TODD & ... / SPENCE	4/3/2008	Signed
HB08-1189	Prohibit Personnel Sys Employee Strikes	RIESBERG / GIBBS	4/3/2008	Signed
HB08-1192	DOC Inmate Copayment Medical Services	MITCHELL V. / SPENCE	4/3/2008	Signed
HB08-1197	Extend Fitzsimons Trust Fund Repeal	MCFADYEN / WINDELS	4/3/2008	Signed
HB08-1200	Computer-assisted Remote Hunting	SOPER / TOCHTROP	4/3/2008	Signed
HB08-1273	Sunset Bingo Games Chance Raffle Board	GALLEGOS & ... / ROMER	4/3/2008	Signed
HB08-1297	Suppl Approp Dept Of Public Safety	BUESCHER / KELLER	4/3/2008	Signed
HB08-1304	Illegal Taking & Possessing Bald Eagles	SOLANO / SCHWARTZ	4/3/2008	Signed
HB08-1333	Capital Construction Fund Transfers	BUESCHER / KELLER	4/3/2008	Signed
SB08-012	Transportation Commission Qualifications	TAKIS / VAAD	4/3/2008	Signed
SB08-046	RTD Board Of Directors Salary Increase	VEIGA / JUDD	4/3/2008	Signed

 

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