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Legislation
Lobbying
Humane
laws with sharp teeth don’t just happen. It takes a lobbyist
who knows the issues that animals in our state face, and who is familiar
with the backgrounds and agendae of the senators and representatives
in the state capitol.
Familiarize
Yourself with the Law
Get
to know the rules and those who make them.This
information below is not all-inclusive, nor is it intended to take
the place of legal advice by a competent attorney.
| State
Law
The State modifies the Iowa Legislature website frequently. Unfortunately, the most recent modification makes it impossible to link directly to specific chapters of the Code of Iowa and the Iowa Administrative Code.
Visit
the Code of Iowa (IC) online. Copies of past Codes are available there from 1996 to the present. (Be aware that
updating the online version of the Code immediately after each
legislative session is not the State’s first priority.)
The following chapters are key:
Chapter
145B • Dogs
for Scientific Research • aka “State Pound Seizure Law”
(see also IAC Chapter 128 • Dogs
for Scientific Research)
Chapter
162 • Care of Animals in Commercial Establishments • aka “State
Animal Welfare Law” (which also includes the “Puppy Mill Bill” allowing IDALS to inspect USDA-licensed breeders upon request)
(see also IAC Chapter 67 • Animal
Welfare)
Chapter
162.20 • Sterilization • aka “State Spay/Neuter Law”
Chapter
717 • Injury
to Livestock
Chapter
717A • Offenses
Relating to Agricultural Production
Chapter
717B • Injury
to Animals Other than Livestock
Visit the Iowa Administrative Code (IAC) online. The IAC is a composite of rules written by
the executive branch which have the full force and effect of
law (i.e., how the laws are enforced). IAC chapters
relate to chapters in the Code of Iowa. The following
chapters are key:
Agriculture
& Land Stewardship (21)
Chapter 67 • Animal
Welfare
(Relates to IC Chapter 162 • Care of Animals in Commercial Establishments)
Agriculture &
Land Stewardship (21)
Chapter 67 • Animal
Welfare: §12.6 Fostering
Oversight Organizations and Foster Care Homes
(relates
to IC Chapter 162 • Care of Animals in Commercial Establishments)
Public
Health (641)
Chapter 128 • Dogs
for Scientific Research
(Relates to IC Chapter 145B • Dogs for Scientific Research and IC Chapter 351A • Dogs & Other Animals)
Chapters of the IAC are also available as PDF files. If you don’t
already have Adobe’s Acrobat Reader (the application
necessary to read PDF files), you can download it free
by clicking the button below: |
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Finding
Your Way Around the
Iowa
General Assembly
From
“Meet
Your Legislators”
to Lobbyist
Information
In
the Chambers—choose from
live audio broadcast of chamber activity or Chamber Action (text
log of event in each chamber. Also, schedules of chamber events,
the display board, subcommittee schedules, session calendars,
and rules of procedure.
Track
Legislation—find bills,
resolutions, and amendments by number, subject, committee, date,
sponsor, etc. Popular tools include:
Bill
Book—all versions of
bills, amendments, resolutions, study bills, bill histories,
fiscal notes, and sponsor information
Bill
Watch—allows you to
create customized lists of bills to track
Directory
of Legislation—indices
of bills, study bills, resolutions, and amendments
Study
Bill Committee Tracking—find
the committee assignments for study bills
Bill
Version Tracking—locate
multiple versions of a bill or study bill
Total
Bill History—displays
legislative action for a bill or resolution
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Federal
Law
Visit
the United States Code (USC)
online. Copies of past Codes are available online from 1994
to the present. The following chapters are key:
Title 7—Agriculture: Chapter
54 • Transportation,
Sale, & Handling of Certain Animals—aka “Animal Welfare Act”
(See also CFR Title 9/Chapter 1 • Subchapter
A—Animal
Welfare Regulations Parts 1-4)
Title
15—Commerce & Trade: Chapter
44 • Protection
of Horses—aka “Horse
Protection Act”
(See also CFR Title 9/Chapter 1 • Subchapter
A—Animal
Welfare Regulations Parts 11-12)
Visit the Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR) online. Copies of past Codes are available
online from 1996 to the present. The following parts are key:
Title 9—Animals & Animal
Products: Chapter
1 • Animal
& Plant Health
Subchapter A—Animal Welfare
Regulations
Part
1—Definition of Terms
Part
2—Regulations
• Attending
Veterinarian & Adequate Veterinary Care
• Compliance
with Standards & Holding Period
• Identification
of Animals
• Licensing
• Miscellaneous
• Records
• Registration
• Research
Facilities
• Stolen
Animals
Part
3—Standards: Specs for
Humane Handling, Care, Treatment, & Transportation
• Dogs
& Cats
• Guinea
Pigs & Hamsters
• Marine
Mammals
• Nonhuman
Primates
• Rabbits
• Warmblooded
Animals Other than the Above
Part
4—Rules of Practice Governing
Proceedings
(relates to USC Title 7: Chapter 54 • “Animal
Welfare Act”)
Part
11—Horse
Protection Regulations
• Prohibitions Concerning Exhibitors
Part
12—Rules
of Practice
(relates to USC Title 15: Chapter 44 • “Horse
Protection Act”)
User-friendly
versions
of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA)
and the Animal Welfare Regulations, and a whole bunch of other animal care/welfare stuff you’d
probably never find even if you were looking!
Lists
of USDA-licensees. The same standards of animal care
apply to all registered and licensed businesses, and Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) field inspectors
make periodic unannounced visits to all locations where animals
are held to see that regulations and standards are followed. There are printed Guidleines for licensing and registration.
Basically,
the Federal animal care standards cover humane handling, housing,
space, feeding and watering, sanitation, ventilation, shelter
from extremes of weather, adequate veterinary care, separation
of incompatible animals, transportation, and handling in transit.
•
Breeders—of pets, lab animals,
etc.
•
Carriers—transport regulated
animals for hire (e.g., airlines, railroads, motor carriers,
shipping lines, etc.)
•
Class A Animal Dealers—deal
only in animals they breed and raise
•
Class B Animal Dealers—include
brokers, bunchers, and operators of auction sales
•
Federal Research Facilities
•
Handlers—take custody of
regulated animals in connection with transporting them on
public carriers
•
Registered Exhibitors—have
animals on display to the public or conduct performances featuring
animals (e.g., zoos, marine mammal shows, circuses, carnivals,
petting zoos, etc.)
•
Research Facilities—include
teaching institutions, drug firms, diagnostic labs, etc.
•
VA Hospitals
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How
to Support/Oppose Bills
Say
something! Put your thoughts in writing. Support your thoughts with
facts and examples. Choose
the communication method you are most comfortable with using (letter, e-mail, phone
call, meeting). Be sure to include your name and residing address.
Then
share them with your neighborhood association, city council, county
supervisors, state legislators, governor, federal legislators, the
people occupying the White House.
If
you don’t tell them what’s on your mind, how will they
ever know?
Action
Alerts
Join
our Legislative list and we’ll let you know what’s going
on. Send us an e-mail
and your name will be added.
Consider joining Iowa Voters for Companion Animals.
Proposed
State Legislation that Will Affect Animals
Here’s
where you’ll find the background and particulars about proposed
State legislation.
Proposed
Federal Legislation that Will Affect Animals
Here’s
where you’ll find the background and particulars about proposed
Federal legislation.
Animal
Law Links
Animal
Care/Condition Scales—developed
at Tufts University.
Animal Welfare Institute—founded in 1955 when only two federal laws to protect animals
existed. Since then, AWI has worked for the successful enactment
of more than15 additional federal laws. Check out their Compassion Index of your state/federal legislators.
Anti-cruelty
Statute Information—The
Humane Society of the United State’s (HSUS) blueprint for
drafting amendments to strengthen state anti-cruelty laws and
a compilation of current anti-cruelty laws by state.
Cat
Law a discussion of State cat laws.
Society
for Animal Protective Legislation—(SAPL)
was founded in 1955 when only two federal laws to protect animals
existed. Since then, SAPL has worked for the successful enactment
of over 15 additional federal laws.
Veterinary
Government & Law Links—from
the Congressman Quarterly Votewatch to the Center for Wildlife
Law to the FDA.
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