HB 1794, HCA 1 -- ANIMAL RESEARCH AND PRODUCTION FACILITIES

CO-SPONSORS:  Legan, Barnitz, Black, Berkowitz, Myers, King,
Richardson

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on
Agriculture by a vote of 24 to 0.

This bill prohibits any person from photographing, videotaping,
or otherwise obtaining images from within an animal facility
without the written consent of the facility.  A person violating
this provision of the bill is guilty of a class D felony.

No person is to intentionally or knowingly release in or
introduce near an animal facility any pathogen or disease that
has the potential to cause disease in any animal at the facility
or which threatens human health or biosecurity at the facility.
Any person in violation of this provision of the bill is guilty
of a range of penalties depending on the dollar amount of the
loss, theft, or damage.  Penalties range from a misdemeanor, if
the loss, theft, or damage is less than $300, and progresses to a
class B felony for loss, theft, or damage in excess of $100,000.

The Director of the Department of Agriculture may initiate a
civil action in the county in which the violation occurred.

HCA 1 -- Revises the prohibition against photographing within an
animal facility.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Net Cost to General Revenue Fund of
Unknown less than $100,000 in FY 2003, FY 2004, and FY 2005.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the Animal Research and
Production Facilities Protection Act needs to be updated to
protect against new forms of action against animal research and
to allow civil action to enforce the act.  These updates are
especially necessary because of the threats of terrorism.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Legan; Missouri Farm
Bureau; Department of Agriculture; Missouri Federation of Animal
Owners; Missouri Pork Producers Association; Save Family Farms;
and Mainstreet America.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Roland Tackett, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated October 11, 2002 at 9:02 am