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Bill Summary
Location Bill  Title  Date  Category
Massachusetts  MA SB 1626  Relates to the treatment of elephants (bullhook ban)  3/1/2013  Defeated
Summary
Bill Text

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 735         FILED ON: 1/17/2013

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1626

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Robert L. Hedlund

_______________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
              Court assembled:

              The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the passage of the accompanying:

An Act relating to the treatment of elephants..

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Robert L. Hedlund

Plymouth and Norfolk

Jason M. Lewis

31st Middlesex

William N. Brownsberger

Second Suffolk and Middlesex

Tom Sannicandro

7th Middlesex

Lori A. Ehrlich

8th Essex

Sheila C. Harrington

1st Middlesex

Timothy R. Madden

Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket

Jonathan Hecht

29th Middlesex

Denise Andrews

2nd Franklin

Denise Provost

27th Middlesex

Michael D. Brady

9th Plymouth

Brian R. Mannal

2nd Barnstable

James M. Cantwell

4th Plymouth

James E. Timilty

Bristol and Norfolk

Byron Rushing

9th Suffolk

 

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 735        FILED ON: 1/17/2013

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1626

By Mr. Hedlund, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1626) of Robert L. Hedlund, Jason M. Lewis, William N. Brownsberger, Tom Sannicandro and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to the treatment of elephants.  Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development. 

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE
                                SENATE
                            , NO. 1706 OF 2011-2012.]


The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
 

 

An Act relating to the treatment of elephants..
 

              Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

              SECTION 1. Chapter 272 of the General Laws, is hereby amended by inserting after section 77B the following section: -

              Section 77C. (a) As used in this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

              “Circus" , a class C licensee under the Animal Welfare Act, 7 U. S. C. section 2131 et seq. , and its subsequent amendments, regulations and standards adopted pursuant to the Act, that offers a performance by a live animal, clown or acrobat.

              "Person" , an individual, partnership, corporation, organization, trade or professional association, firm, limited liability company, joint venture, association, trust, estate, or any other legal entity, and any agent, or representative thereof.

              "Traveling show", circus, public show, trade show, photographic opportunity, carnival, city or county fair, agricultural fair, ride, parade, race, performance or a similar undertaking in which elephants do not permanently reside or that moves the elephants from location to location, but not including the transportation of elephants for the purpose of obtaining required medical services for an elephant or for the exchange of an elephant between sanctuaries.

              (b) It shall be unlawful for any person who houses, possesses, is in contact with, or travels with any elephant utilized in a circus or traveling show within Massachusetts to engage in any of the following:

                    (1) Use of any implement on an elephant that may reasonably result in harm to the elephant including, but not limited to, the damage, scarring or breakage of an elephant's skin. Any such implement or device that is used, purchased, contrived for or constructed for the purpose of poking, striking, hitting, stabbing, piercing, pinching or other physical contact of an elephant shall be construed as an implement or device which may reasonably result in harm, damage, scarring or breakage of skin to an elephant. For purposes of this subsection such implement or device includes, but is not limited to, a bullhook, ankus or other similar device.

                    (2) Possession of any implement or device that may reasonably result in harm, damage, scarring or breakage of skin to an elephant. Any such implement or device that is used, purchased, contrived for or constructed for the purpose of poking, striking, hitting, stabbing, piercing, pinching or other physical contact of an elephant shall be construed as an implement or device which may reasonably result in harm, damage, scarring or breakage of skin to an elephant. For purposes of this subsection such implement or device includes, but is not limited to, a bullhook, ankus, or other similar device.

                    (3) Use of a chain or similar device to restrain an elephant, except if utilized for the shortest amount of time necessary to provide actual medical treatment.

              (c) Whoever violates this section shall be fined not more than $5000 per violation or imprisoned in the house of correction for not more than 1 year, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

 

 


Details
Category   Date   Detail Ascending  
  Status 7/31/2014  Bill died at adjournment; no carryover to 2015 
  Status 1/6/2014  Carried over to 2014 legislative session 
  Caution-Expired 3/14/2014  MA SB 1626 placed into study 
  Action-Expired 1/13/2014  MA Senate Bill 1626 Scheduled for Hearing on February 3, 2014 
  Status 1/22/2013  Referred to Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development 
  Information 2/4/2014  Summary of Feb 3 Hearing on MA SB 1626  
 


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