Presentation for CMACOA, September 17, 2015

1. If you don’t like the rules,
change them! How to improve
laws for animals in CT
Amy Harrell
President, Connecticut Votes for Animals

2. Today’s presentation
• A little info about CVA
• Overview of the state legislative process
• How you can affect that process
• Future areas of legislation
• Plenty of time for Q and A
• Let’s hear your ideas!

3. About me and CVA
• CT Votes for Animals is an all-volunteer grassroots
advocacy organization, working mainly at state level
• We aim to create a more peaceful environment for
animals by lobbying for stronger animal protection
laws
• We see our work in the context of the larger
animal protection movement.
• Our goal is to complement the
work of rescuers, ACOs,
educators, veterinarians, etc.

4. The CVA formula
Mobilize animal-loving voters to
“get political”
+
Professional lobbying
+
Building up pro-animal legislators =
Better laws !!

5. Some things we’ve done so far
• Dog tethering statutes
• Pet shop laws
• Animal cruelty penalties and cross-reporting
with child abuse
• APCP voucher distribution
• Anti-Breed specific legislation
• Rallied against bear hunting
• Advocate against the sale of poached
elephant ivory

6. Connecticut
State
Legislative
Process

7. How a bill becomes law: the Myth
Brilliant idea 
Committee flawlessly drafts into a bill 
Unanimous passage in the House 
Passage in the Senate 
Governor happily signs bill into law

8. How a bill becomes law: reality
Brilliant idea
Committee chair
strips half of it out
Nail biting
Testify at public hearing at
10:30PM on Friday night
tearshed
Bill limps out of committee
in stripped-down form
Sweet talk pro-animal legislator
into sponsoring floor amendment
Massive grassroots campaign
Bill goes to House
Bill sent to another committee
House passes on second to last day of session
Senate passes at 10 PM on last day of session
HUGE CELEBRATION !!!

9. Where legislative ideas come
from
• Unfinished business from prior years
• The political ecosphere
• National trends
• Members, legislators, state agencies like
Dept. of Agriculture, or YOU
• Other advocacy or rescue organizations

10. Step One: Find support
• Meet with legislators, Dept of Agriculture, other
organizations
• Find legislator who will sponsor
• Must generate support for the idea and get the bill
“raised” in committee so it will have a public hearing.

11. The Environment Committee
• Bi-partisan committee
• Handles matters concerning the
environment, including animals
• Co-chairs: Sen. Ted Kennedy Jr.
represents Branford, Durham, Guilford,
Killingworth, Madison & North Branford
• Rep. James Albis represents
East Haven
• Complete membership at:
https://www.cga.ct.gov/env/

12. The public hearing
• All members of the public invited
to speak for 3 minutes in support
or opposition of the bill
• As an ACO you are considered an
expert witness
• All testimony should be submitted
in writing regardless of whether
you come in person.
• If you come in person, ask your
legislator to “escort” you which will get you in and
out faster !!

13. The rest of the
journey …
• If the bill gets out of committee,
it goes to either House or
Senate, sometimes taking a
detour through another
committee.
• Amendments can affect the bill’s
direction
• Must pass both House and
Senate – then on to Governor’s
desk

14. The bill’s life depends on …
• Grassroots power
• Amendments
• Grassroots power
• Partisan politics
• Backroom deals
• Grassroots power
• Strength of legislators who pledged to champion
• Bill’s proponents’ willingness to
compromise.

15. Changing the rules in your own
town
• Town governments differ in processes and
procedures – get to know your own.
• Attend city council or RTM meetings to get a
feel for the process and the players.
• Expect the same non-linear, politics-infused
process seen at the state level!

16. What’s an ACO to do?
• Develop relationships with your elected
officials.
• Go to their Web sites and sign
up for email list. Follow Facebook
page, Twitter, etc.
• Send them occasional reports of
the important work you are doing.
• Invite them to shelter-related
events
• Time permitting, have a one-on-one meeting

17. Propose your own ideas
• Should it go to your town or the state?
• Check first with Ray Connors/Dept of
Agriculture
• Poll your colleagues
• Test out your idea on
legislators/town council
• Get in touch with me!

18. Help other proposals get passed
• Testify at a hearing/submit written testimony
• Spread the word by forwarding/sharing CVA
action alerts
• Encourage others to get involved politically

19. Make your voice heard
• State Task force title “Task Force for Humane
Treatment of Animals in Municipal and
Regional Shelters”
• Web site: http://tinyurl.com/CTtaskforce
• Meets monthly, Collecting feedback from public and
ACOs, May propose ideas for next session.
• Next meeting: October 7, 2:00 – 4:00, at the
Legislative Office Building

20. Work directly with CVA or other
groups
• Contact advocacy groups and educate us!
• Create a legislative committee within
CMACOA that will help generate ideas,
provide feedback throughout the session, and
serve as liaisons to task forces, committees,
etc.
• Feedback from you is essential to both
proposing solutions, and evaluating what
works and what doesn’t.

21. Looking ahead …
• Legislation that will likely be introduced in the 2016
session that runs February through May
• Prohibit insurance companies from discriminating against dog
breeds
• Court advocate bill, aka “Desmond’s Law” to encourage
justice in animal cruelty cases
• Pie in the sky legislation (future session?)
• Mandatory spay/neuter for all animals adopted out from
municipal shelters or rescue organizations

22. Questions?
Feedback?
What do YOU think?
Contact info: Amy Harrell, amy.cva@gmail.com
http://ctvotesforanimals.org
Facebook: CTVotesforAnimals
Twitter: CVFA