HB 231-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2023 SESSION
23-0384
08/05
HOUSE BILL 231-FN
AN ACT prohibiting the removal of claws from cats.
SPONSORS: Rep. Bordes, Belk. 5; Rep. Read, Rock. 10
COMMITTEE: Environment and Agriculture
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ANALYSIS
This bill creates a criminal penalty for declawing a cat.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
23-0384
08/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three
AN ACT prohibiting the removal of claws from cats.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Removal of Claws from Cats. Amend RSA 644 by inserting after section 8-g the following new section:
644:8-h Removal of Claws from Cats Prohibited.
I. No person shall remove the claws of a cat by performing an onychectomy, partial or complete phalangectomy, or a tendonectomy, by any means, on a cat except when necessary in order to address the physical medical condition of the cat, such as an existing or recurring illness, infection, disease, injury, or abnormal condition in the claw that compromises the cat's health. No person shall remove the claws of a cat for cosmetic or aesthetic reasons or for reasons of convenience in keeping or handling the cat.
II. Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a violation and subject to a civil penalty of $500 for the first violation, $1,000 for the second violation, and $2,500 for any subsequent violation.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2024.
23-0384
12/22/22
HB 231-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT prohibiting the removal of claws from cats.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ X ] County [ ] Local [ ] None
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| Estimated Increase / (Decrease) | |||
STATE: | FY 2023 | FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 |
Appropriation | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Revenue | $0 | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase |
Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase |
Funding Source: | [ X ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ ] Other | |||
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METHODOLOGY:
This bill establishes a violation level offense that may result in civil actions and penalties for declawing a cat. There is no method to determine how many charges, if any, would be brought as a result of this bill to determine the fiscal impact on expenditures. The Judicial Branch has indicated the potential cost per case for violation level offenses would be $122 in FY 2024 (not including appeals).
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Judicial Branch
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 7, 2023 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 28, 2023 | House | Exec Session |
| Feb. 28, 2023 | House | Floor Vote |
| March 28, 2023 | Senate | Hearing |
| May 18, 2023 | Senate | Floor Vote |
Dec. 20, 2023: Inexpedient to Legislate, Senate Rule 3-23, Adjournment 10/26/2023; SJ 21
May 18, 2023: Pending Motion Inexpedient to Legislate; 05/18/2023; SJ 15
May 18, 2023: Sen. Carson Moved Laid on Table, MA, VV; 05/18/2023; SJ 15
May 16, 2023: Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate, 05/18/2023; SC 22A
March 22, 2023: Hearing: 03/28/2023, Room 103, SH, 09:30 am; SC 15
March 21, 2023: Introduced 03/16/2023 and Referred to Energy and Natural Resources; SJ 11
March 16, 2023: Ought to Pass: MA DV 225-147 03/16/2023 HJ 9 P. 44
March 6, 2023: Committee Report: Without Recommendation 02/28/2023 (Vote ; RC) HC 15 P. 14
Feb. 23, 2023: Executive Session: 02/28/2023 01:30 pm LOB 201-203
Feb. 2, 2023: Public Hearing: 02/07/2023 12:00 pm LOB 303
Jan. 9, 2023: Introduced (in recess of) 01/05/2023 and referred to Environment and Agriculture HJ 2 P. 7