Thursday, March 17

Today, a HF 589 came up for debate.  It is controversial because part of it reads:


The bill prohibits a person from interfering with an animal facility of crop operation.  This includes producing an audio or visual record which reproduces an image or sound occurring on or in the location, or possessing or distributing the record.  It also prohibits a person from exercising control over the location or property, with intent to deprive the owner of the property, rentering onto the location, if the person has notice that the location is not open to the public.  The severity of the offense is based on whether there has been a previous conviction.  For the first conviction, the person is guilty of an aggravated misdemeanor, and for a second or subsequent conviction, the person is guilty of a class "D" felony.


It is designed this way to prevent contamination of animal production sites.  A farmer rep went through all the hardships of maintaining a small farm and how important sanitation is, especially for raising young animals.