The House Judiciary Committee heard SB 323, sponsored by Reps. McNamara, Hamilton, and Lehman, on animal protective orders and wireless service providers. This bill permits a court to order the transfer of a wireless telephone number as part of a protection order.
The bill was amended to permit a judge to include the petitioner’s animals in a protection order, treating them as personal property. This amendment was from SB 314 which passed the Senate. A second amendment was also adopted by consent, requiring the court issuing the protection order to serve notice of the order on the registered agent of the service provider.
A representative of the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence testified in favor of the bill and amendment. A representative from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, spoke in favor of the inclusion of pets in protection orders. The bill passed as amended 12-0.
Read the bill at: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2017/bills/senate/323