Update: Wednesday, February 23, 2022
Minnesota House File 208 has been scheduled for consideration by the House State Government Finance and Elections Committee this Friday, February 25. Concerned Minnesota residents who have not already contacted the committee to express concerns are strongly encouraged to do so today. To submit written testimony, please email Amanda Rudolph, committee administrator, at Amanda.Rudolph@house.mn no later than 5 P.M. on Thursday, February 24.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is concerned that, as introduced, H.F. 208 does not provide adequate representation to those who will be most impacted by Board policy. AKC believes greater representation of licensed entities would better ensure that reasonable policies may be set. Moreover, instead of creating a new Board, AKC believes that the state should continue to focus on enforcement of the state’s current substantive animal welfare laws and regulations. Scroll down to review our February 8, 2022, alert on HF 208.
For more information, contact AKC Government Relations at doglaw@akc.org.
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The Minnesota House State Government Finance and Elections Committee is scheduled to consider House File 208, which seeks to create a Companion Animal Board as the primary authority for regulating companion animals in this state, on Thursday, February 17. Concerned Minnesota residents are strongly encouraged to contact the bill’s sponsors, the committee members, and their elected representatives to express concerns with H.F. 208.
Under H.F. 208, the Board will be given broad powers to regulate animal welfare in the state. Although it requires that one “member must be a companion animal breeder”, the rest of the Board would be comprised of 12 members, most of whom will not have the level of animal husbandry expertise and experience of breeders and sportsmen, nor will they be directly impacted by the Board’s actions.
Minnesota Code already regulates kennels in the state, including licensing requirements and extensive regulations regarding kennel sizes and the care and conditions in which dogs should be kept.
The proposed Minnesota Companion Animal Board would consist of the following members, who must all be Minnesota residents:
1.) Two members must be accredited, licensed veterinarians who practice veterinary medicine;
2.) One member must be a Minnesota animal control officer;
3.) One member must be employed by a Minnesota licensed animal shelter located in the seven-county metropolitan area;
4.) One member must be employed by a Minnesota licensed animal shelter located in greater Minnesota;
5.) One member must be from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine;
6.) One member must be a current board member for the past two years of a Minnesota nonprofit animal rescue and re-homing organization qualifying as a nonprofit under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;
7.) One member must be employed by the board of animal health;
8.) One member must be employed by a county or municipality representing community needs and local governance;
9.) One member must represent public human health and welfare issues and the relationship between companion animal and human health and welfare;
10.) One member must be a companion animal breeder; and
11.) Two members must be at-large public members.
As currently written, the bill would give the Board a broad range of powers to establish rules for “the collection, analysis, and dissemination of quantitative and qualitative data as it relates to companion animals in Minnesota”. The Board would also be given powers to establish rules for “the licensing, enforcement, and inspection of kennels and dealers and the licensing, enforcement, and inspection of commercial breeders.”
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is concerned that, as introduced, H.F. 208 does not provide adequate representation to those who will be most impacted by Board policy. AKC believes greater representation of licensed entities would better ensure that reasonable policies may be set. Moreover, instead of creating a new Board, AKC believes that the state should continue to focus on enforcement of the state’s current substantive animal welfare laws and regulations.
AKC expressed deep concerns with similar legislation in 2020.
What You Can Do:
Concerned Minnesota dog owners are encouraged to contact the bill’s sponsors (Representatives Freiburg, Becker-Finn, Frazier, Elkins, Masin, and Long) members of the House State Government Finance and Elections Committee, and their elected representatives in Saint Paul, to comment on this bill.
House Government Finance and Elections Committee:
Rep. Michael Nelson, Chair (District 40A)
585 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St Paul, MN 55155
651-296-3751
Email: rep.michael.nelson@house.mn
Rep. Andrew Carlson, Vice Chair (District 50B)
557 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St Paul, MN 55155
651-296-4218
Email: rep.andrew.carlson@house.mn
Rep. Jim Nash, Minority Leader (District 47A)
349 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St Paul, MN 55155
651-296-4282
Email: rep.jim.nash@house.mn
Rep. Kristin Bahner (District 34B)
525 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St Paul, MN 55155
651-296-5502
Email: rep.kristin.bahner@house.mn
Rep. Steve Drazkowski (District 21B)
327 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St Paul, MN 55155
651-296-2273
Email: rep.steve.drazkowski@house.mn
Rep. Steve Elkins (District 49B) (Bill Sponsor)
515 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St Paul, MN 55155
651-296-7803
Email: rep.steve.elkins@house.mn
Rep. Emma Greenman (District 63B)
415 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St Paul, MN 55155
651-296-4200
Email: rep.emma.greenman@house.mn
Rep. Ginny Klevorn (District 44A)
581 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St Paul, MN 55155
651-296-5511
Email: rep.ginny.klevorn@house.mn
Rep. Jon Koznick (District 58A)
281 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St Paul, MN 55155
651-296-6926
Email: rep.jon.koznick@house.mn
Rep. Sandra Masin (District 51A) (Bill Sponsor)
543 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St Paul, MN 55155
651-296-3533
Email: rep.sandra.masin@house.mn
Rep. Anne Neu Brindley (District 32B)
261 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St Paul, MN 55155
651-296-5377
Email: rep.anne.neu@house.mn
Rep. Gene Pelowski, Jr. (District 28A)
491 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St Paul, MN 55155
651-296-8637
Email: rep.gene.pelowski@house.mn
Rep. Duane Quam (District 25A)
247 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St Paul, MN 55155
651-296-9236
Email: rep.duane.quam@house.mn
Rep. Rena Moran (District: 65A) (Ex-Officio)
449 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St Paul, MN 55155
651-296-5158
Email: rep.rena.moran@house.mn
RESOURCES:
For tips on how to effectively communicate with legislators, please click here.
For more information, contact AKC’s Government Relations Department at (919) 816-3720 or doglaw@akc.org