A bill on “animal terrorism” opposed by environmental groups who call it too broad was revived in the House Appropriations Committee after House Environment Committee Chairman Joe Hart saved it from being voted down in his committee on April 5 by adjourning the meeting when the vote appeared to be going against it.

Democrats protested Mr. Hart’s action on the bill, S1081, and also protested Speaker Jake Flake’s subsequent decision to withdraw the bill from Environment and put it into Appropriations, which approved it April 13. It awaits House floor action.

The bill proposes to make it a felony to cause criminal damage through “animal or ecological terrorism,” defined as obstructing any lawful “animal activity,” which is defined as any activity involving the use of animals or animal parts, including hunting, agriculture, biotechnology and any research.

Mr. Hart, R-3, said Jim Drake, the House Rules attorney, admonished him for the abrupt adjournment, “so I won’t be doing that again.” He said at the time he believed his action was proper. “I thought it was the chairman’s prerogative,” he said.

Rep. Leah Landrum Taylor, D-16, House assistant minority leader and an Environment Committee member, registered the protest during the April 13 floor session.

“The chair violated House rules,” she said. “S1081 was in the hands of the committee. The motion that the bill receive a ‘do pass’ recommendation had been made. Five members of the 10-member committee had voted nay.”

“With those votes, the bill should have received a ‘do-not-pass’ recommendation,” she continued. “But, instead, the chair adjourned the meeting in the middle of the vote. His actions show a lack of respect for the members whose votes he silenced.”

Reps. Manuel Alvarez, D-25; Ernest Bustamante, D-23; and Ken Clark, D-15 joined the protest.

Ms. Landrum Taylor, who also objected to Mr. Flake’s withdrawal of S1081 from the Environment Committee, said, “No one should be rewarded for violating House rules.”

Mr. Flake, R-5, simply responded, “Duly noted.”

Not Yet Scheduled For Floor Action

The Appropriations Committee gave S1081 a do-pass recommendation during a lengthy hearing on April 13. It has not been scheduled for floor action. S1081, which passed the Senate, 18-12, allows acts of animal or ecological terrorism to be prosecuted as racketeering if committed for financial gain or resulting or intended to result in serious injury or death.

Ms. Landrum Taylor said the situations covered in the bill are already covered by state law.

“It’s unnecessary,” she said. “That was the reason I originally opposed it. We didn’t need it. But now with people breaking rules to get it through, I’m really becoming suspicious of it.”

A statement from Arizona Advocacy Network, an umbrella group that includes several environmental organizations, said S1081 “would unjustly profile animal and environmental activists as terrorists” and is unnecessary. —