On Friday, at the last meeting of the Connecticut General Assembly Joint Committee on the Judiciary, the committee held back on two bills impacting animal welfare.
- SB 1060, would amend current law that allows the court to appoint lawyers or law students to represent dogs and cats in proceedings concerning their welfare or custody by expanding it to include “animals”. The American Kennel Club (AKC) issued an alert before testifying in opposition to the bill along with the Connecticut Federation of Dog Clubs and Responsible Dog Owners (CFDRDO). During the committee’s discussion, it became apparent that multiple Connecticut laws define “animal” differently and the bill was passed over.
- With support for prohibiting dog breed discrimination in homeowners’ insurance from AKC, CFDRDO, and multiple Connecticut kennel clubs, the Joint Insurance and Real Estate Committee voted favorably on an amended version of HB 6635, as detailed in this update. Because the amendments involved liability issues, the bill was forwarded on March 21 to the Judiciary Committee for review. Further action was not taken before the committee’s deadline to take action expired.
AKC and CFDRDO are grateful to the Connecticut club members and dog owners who contacted these committees. AKC will continue to monitor the session closely for any additional movements.
For more information on these or other legislative issues in Connecticut, contact AKC’s Government Relations Department at 919-816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org.