JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri lawmakers gave final approval Wednesday to legislation that replaces many of the provisions in a dog-breeding law approved by voters last year.
Backers of the law approved by voters argued that Missouri's existing laws were too weak, allowing breeders to keep dogs in stacked cages and exposed to excess heat and cold. But many state lawmakers argued this year that the new law would wipe out the state's dog-breeding industry by forcing costly renovations to facilities and effectively limiting how many dogs the businesses could sell.
The state legislation would eliminate a cap on owning 50 breeding dogs and roll back various new requirements for the dogs' living conditions. It also would eliminate a provision that allowed someone to be charged with a crime for any violation.
The revised bill would allow civil penalties and a misdemeanor charge for repeated offenses. Dog-breeders would need to provide appropriate space for their animals based on regulations set by the Department of Agriculture. The bill also would allow licensing costs of up to $2,500 instead of $500, and would impose an additional $25 annual fee to finance state efforts to crack down on unlicensed dog breeders.
The voter-approved law is to take effect this November. The bill passed by the Legislature would change it before then.
The House gave the legislation final approval 85-71 on Wednesday, after the Senate passed the dog-breeding legislation last month. The bill now goes to Gov. Jay Nixon.
Missouri has more than 1,300 licensed dog breeders according to the state Department of Agriculture. The debate about regulations for that industry has been an emotional issue in the state Capitol this year.
Rep. Tom Loehner, who handled the dog legislation in the House, said the voter-approved law cannot be enforced and would cost jobs. He said many breeders do a good job and take pride in their work.
"Don't go out and punish everyone in this industry whether they're doing a good job or not," said Loehner, R-Koeltztown.
Voters in November approved a ballot measure called Proposition B, backed by several animal advocacy groups, that included requirements of more space for animals and limits on how frequently they could be bred. The dog-breeding ballot measure passed with 52 percent of the statewide vote, as support in areas around Kansas City and St. Louis that outweighed opposition in much of the rest of the state.
Critics have said that it was wrong for the Legislature to overrule voters.
"It basically overturns the Proposition B that was put forth. That is a travesty of justice, a travesty of our democratic process," said Rep. Margo McNeil, D-Florissant.
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Dog breeding is SB113
Online:
Legislature: http://www.moga.mo.gov
The 85-71 roll call by which the Missouri House voted Wednesday to approve legislation replacing many provisions in a voter-back law regulating dog-breeding operations.
Voting "yes" were 77 Republicans and 8 Democrats.
Voting "no" were 26 Republicans and 45 Democrats.
Not voting were 3 Republicans and 3 Democrats.
REPUBLICANS VOTING YES
Randy Asbury, Higbee.
Kurt Bahr, O'Fallon.
Jay Barnes, Jefferson City.
Mike Bernskoetter, Jefferson City.
T.J. Berry, Kearney.
Ellen Brandom, Sikeston.
Rick Brattin, Harrisonville.
Wanda Brown, Lincoln.
Eric Burlison, Springfield.
John Cauthorn, Mexico.
Steve Cookson, Fairdealing.
Stanley Cox, Sedalia.
Sandy Crawford, Buffalo.
Paul Curtman, Pacific.
Charlie Davis, Webb City.
David Day, Dixon.
Charlie Denison, Springfield.
Scott Dieckhaus, Washington.
John Diehl, St. Louis.
Tony Dugger, Hartville.
Kevin Elmer, Nixa.
Sue Entlicher, Bolivar.
Barney Fisher, Richards.
Paul Fitzwater, Potosi.
Tom Flanigan, Carthage.
Lyndall Fraker, Marshfield.
Diane Franklin, Camdenton.
Ward Franz, West Plains.
Keith Frederick, Rolla.
Doug Funderburk, St. Peters.
Casey Guernsey, Bethany.
Galen Higdon, St. Joseph.
Dave Hinson, St. Clair.
Denny Hoskins, Warrensburg.
Lincoln Hough, Springfield.
Jay Houghton, Martinsburg.
Delus Johnson, St. Joseph.
Caleb Jones, Clarksburg.
Shelley Keeney, Marble Hill.
Mike Kelley, Lamar.
Glen Klippenstein, Maysville.
Bart Korman, New Florence.
Mike Lair, Chillicothe.
Bill Lant, Joplin.
Scott Largent, Clinton.
Melissa Leach, Springfield.
Donna Lichtenegger, Jackson.
Tom Loehner, Koeltztown.
Thomas Long, Battlefield.
John McCaherty, High Ridge.
Mike McGhee, Odessa.
Bob Nance, Excelsior Springs.
Jerry Nolte, Gladstone.
Don Phillips, Kimberling City.
Darrell Pollock, Lebanon.
Craig Redmon, Canton.
Bill Rieboldt, Neosho.
Todd Richardson, Poplar Bluff.
Jeanie Riddle, Mokane.
Lyle Rowland, Cedar Creek.
Don Ruzicka, Mount Vernon.
David Sater, Cassville.
Rodney Schad, Versailles.
Dave Schatz, Sullivan.
Shane Schoeller, Willard.
Lindell Shumake, Hannibal.
Jason Smith, Salem.
Mike Thomson, Maryville.
Noel Torpey, Independence.
Wayne Wallingford, Cape Girardeau.
Don Wells, Cabool.
Ray Weter, Nixa.
Bill White, Joplin.
Paul Wieland, Imperial.
Billy Pat Wright, Dexter.
Zachary Wyatt, Green Castle.
Steven Tilley, Perryville.
DEMOCRATS VOTING YES
Joe Aull, Marshall.
Joe Fallert, Ste. Genevieve.
Steve Hodges, East Prairie.
Jamilah Nasheed, St. Louis.
Paul Quinn, Monroe City.
Ed Schieffer, Troy.
Tom Shively, Shelbyville.
Terry Swinger, Caruthersville.
REPUBLICANS VOTING NO
Sue Allen, Town and Country.
Cloria Brown, St. Louis.
Mike Cierpiot, Lee's Summit.
Kathie Conway, St. Charles.
Gary Cross, Lee's Summit.
Sally Faith, St. Charles.
Gary Fuhr, St. Louis.
Don Gosen, Chesterfield.
Marsha Haefner, St. Louis.
Kent Hampton, Malden.
Tim Jones, Eureka.
Andrew Koenig, Ballwin.
Brent Lasater, Independence.
Jeanie Lauer, Blue Springs.
Mike Leara, St. Louis.
Nick Marshall, Parkville.
Cole McNary, Chesterfield.
Chris Molendorp, Belton.
Myron Neth, Liberty.
Mark Parkinson, St. Charles .
Ron Schieber, Kansas City.
Vicki Schneider, O'Fallon.
Ryan Silvey, Kansas City.
Sheila Solon, Blue Springs.
Rick Stream, Kirkwood.
Anne Zerr, St. Charles.
DEMOCRATS VOTING NO
Ira Anders, Independence.
Bert Atkins, Florissant.
Susan Carlson, St. Louis.
Chris Carter, St. Louis.
Ron Casey, Crystal City.
Mike Colona, St. Louis.
Pat Conway, St. Joseph.
Rory Ellinger, St. Louis.
Ben Harris, Hillsboro.
Jason Holsman, Kansas City.
Penny Hubbard, St. Louis.
Leonard Hughes IV, Kansas City.
Jacob Hummel, St. Louis.
Tishaura Jones, St. Louis.
Jason Kander, Kansas City.
Chris Kelly, Columbia.
Jeanne Kirkton, St. Louis.
Michele Kratky, St. Louis.
Sara Lampe, Sringfield.
Karla May, St. Louis.
Gail McCann Beatty, Kansas City.
Tom McDonald, Independence.
Eileen McGeoghegan, St. Ann.
Kevin McManus, Kansas City.
Margo McNeil, Florissant.
Tim Meadows, Imperial.
Genise Montecillo, St. Louis.
Stacey Newman, St. Louis.
Mary Nichols, Maryland Heights.
Jeanette Mott Oxford, St. Louis.
Sharon Pace, St. Louis.
Jean Peters-Baker, Kansas City.
Tommie Pierson, St. Louis.
John Rizzo, Kansas City.
Jill Schupp, St. Louis.
Scott Sifton, St. Louis.
Clem Smith, St. Louis.
Churie Spreng, Florissant.
Mary Still, Columbia.
Jay Swearingen, North Kansas City.
Mike Talboy, Kansas City.
Sylvester Taylor, Florissant.
Rochelle Walton Gray, Florissant.
Stephen Webber, Columbia.
Jake Zimmerman, Olivette.
REPUBLICANS NOT VOTING
Chuck Gatschenberger, Lake St. Louis.
Jeff Grisamore, Lee's Summit.
Dwight Scharnhorst, High Ridge.
DEMOCRATS NOT VOTING
Linda Black, Bonne Terre.
Michael Brown, Kansas City.
Steve Webb, Florissant.