New Page 0

We are excited to report that the Michigan Humane Society (MHS) has recently had historically important legislation introduced: Senate Bills 951 & 952 would create a Companion Animal Welfare Fund. These bills establish a voluntary state income tax donation mechanism allowing Michiganians to either earmark a portion of their state income tax refund, or make a voluntary contribution at tax time, to this new Fund in the State Treasury. Those funds would then be used to significantly improve animal welfare in our state by helping state-licensed public and private shelters and nonprofits increase the number of companion animals who are sterilized and adopted, and/or improve enforcement of anti-cruelty laws.

The bills were jointly introduced by state Senators Valde Garcia (R-Howell) and Bob Emerson (D-Flint).

Each year, the state Treasury Department would transfer money from this fund to the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA), which would then make monetary grants to MDA-licensed humane society and public animal control shelters or to state-registered nonprofits. The grants would not cost the state or the MDA any money.

The MHS regards this as some of the most significant animal protection legislation we have ever initiated in all the decades we have worked in the State Capitol.

The bills should be relatively non-controversial and already have the support of a majority of Senators. As you communicate with your state legislators, remind them that:

Millions of public and private dollars are used for the sheltering and unnecessary euthanasia of companion animals each year.
While Michigan has some of the best anti-cruelty laws in the U.S., they often go unenforced because of a lack of sufficient funds at the local governmental level.
Studies have shown that people who are violent toward animals often become a danger to humans as well. Thus, crimes against animals are an early warning system that should be taken seriously.

Visit www.michiganhumane.org/legislation_summary for more information from MHS about the bills, which are tie-barred, meaning they must move together. Read or download a copy of Senate Bills 951 & 952 by visiting www.michiganlegislature.org/.

How You Can Help:

1) Send a letter by mail, fax or email to the Chair and Members of the Senate Finance Committee where these bills are under consideration. We do not advise phoning legislators at this time. Explain how important the bills are and ask the committee members to quickly and favorably vote the bills out of committee to the full Senate for a vote. One of the bills' sponsors, Senator Garcia, is also on this committee but there is obviously no need to ask for his support.

Senator Nancy Cassis (R-Novi)
Chairperson
Senate Finance Committee
305 Farnum Bldg.
Lansing, MI 48909
Fax: 517-373-0938
senncassis@senate.mi.gov

Senator Michelle McManus (R-Lake Leelanau)
905 Farnum Bldg.
Lansing, MI 48909
Fax: 517-373-0741
senmmcmanus@senate.mi.gov

Senator Samuel "Buzz" Thomas (D-Detroit)
610 Farnum Bldg.
Lansing, MI 48909
Fax: 517-373-5227
senbthomas@senate.mi.gov

Senator Liz Brater (D-Ann Arbor)
510 Farnum Bldg.
Lansing, MI 48909
Fax: 517-373-5679
senlbrater@senate.mi.gov

2) Mail, fax or email your State Senator to explain the importance of these bills and to ask him or her to vote in support of them when they reach the Senate floor.

3) Mail, fax, or email your State Representative and, again, explain the bills to him or her and seek support.

Please feel free to share any feedback you receive from your Senator and Representative with MHS Lobbyist, Eileen Liska, at: eliska01@comcast.net.