2020 Legislative Report, continued... In the 2019 legislative session, horses were grafted onto the program,
which previously had only included dogs, and this bill was an attempt to flesh out the “rules” for that inclusion. Te head scratcher for the MHC Legislative Committee was that the bill defined “therapy horse” as “a horse trained for interactions with veterans by a professionally accredited equine therapy program.” However, to the best of our knowledge, no such organization exists. What was also a head scratcher is that there was no similar requirement in the bill that dogs be trained by a “profession- ally accredited canine therapy program.” Unless amended, MHC opposed the bill as it was written. Te bill was amended, but the language was still problematic for many in our com- munity. Te legislative session ended before the bill proceeded further. We expect the bill to return, but we are hoping to be able to work with the sponsor and with members within our community to make it more realistically functional.
Vet Board & Unauthorized Practice of Veterinary Medicine Te bill that was originally entered looked nothing like the heavily amended version of the bill that passed. Te original bill gave very broad powers to the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners to issue cease and desist letters with penalties up to $5,000 for the unauthorized practice of veterinary medicine. Although the bill addressed only enforcement and penalties, it was of
particular concern to some because of how current Maryland law defines the “practice of veterinary medicine.” In MD Code, Agriculture, § 2-301; the practice of veterinary medicine has a very broad definition that often catches animal health practitioners of alternative therapies by surprise. Tere is a lengthy list of exceptions to those activities considered to be the practice of veterinary medicine (for instance, farrier is specifically exempted, as is a person who floats or cleans teeth – although all other dentistry is considered veterinary practice). Te final version of the bill, which has passed and is now awaiting the
Governor’s signature, significantly increased the penalties (from a maxi- mum of $5,000, to up to $10,000 for repeat offenses), but added some procedural protections such as requirements for notice and a hearing, and a right of review.
Pimlico, Laurel & Bowie Tis sweeping bill, “Te Racing & Community Redevelopment Act of
2020,” authorizes the Maryland Stadium Authority to float $375 million in bonds to overhaul the two Toroughbred race courses owned by the Maryland Jockey Club. Te legislation specifies $180 million for Pim- lico, home of the Preakness, with tremendous sentimental and symbolic meaning for many in the community regardless of whether or not they are directly connected to horses, but a fiscal challenge for MJC. $155 million will be allocated to Laurel Park, MJC’s more fiscally sound track located in central Maryland. Original law granted 40 live racing days to Pimlico; the new act would grant 180 live racing days to both Pimlico and Laurel combined. Among a whole smorgasbord of requirements are mandates that MJC
convey Bowie Training Center to the city of Bowie, and that an Equine Health, Safety & Welfare Advisory Committee be established for race horses.
Te funding will enable MJC to demolish Laurel as it currently is,
grandstands, clubhouse and current tracks, and rebuild it into a state-of- the-art facility and training center, and installing 3 new surface tracks: dirt, turf and synthetic. Pimlico will be redeveloped and renovated as both a racing and community-purpose venue. When not conducting the Preakness Stakes, the clubhouse and facilities will be used for com- munity activities, recreational purposes, civic events, and other public purposes. For more detailed information about this Act, visit the web- sites for MHC’s thoroughbred members: Te Maryland Horse Breeders 44 | THE EQUIERY | MAY 2020
What does our COVID-19 experience teach us about the Deliberative Process? For those of us who have been working on legislative issues and regula-
tory affairs for the Maryland Horse Council for decades or more, we are accustomed to the frustration of those new to the process of grassroots lobbying. It is not uncommon for newcomers to be frustrated after their first legislative session - dismayed at the cumbersomeness of the process, continued...
800-244-9580 |
www.equiery.com
(Mid-Atlantic Toroughbred) and Maryland Toroughbred Horsemen’s Association.
General Ag-Related Legislation
Valuation of Easements in MALPF Offers Existing law authorized MALPF (which purchases easements on
farms to ensure the land stays in ag use for perpetuity) to use the fair market value of the property at the time the written request was received to consider the property for the program, but the law was silent on the length of time for which that fair market valuation would be considered valid. Tis approved bill, now awaiting the Governor’s signature, caps that validity period at a maximum of two years.
Repeal of St. Mary’s County Power to Do Installment Agreements Also awaiting the Governor’s signature is the approved bill that will
repeal the ability of St. Mary’s County to enter into installment purchase agreements for ag land preservation.
More Money for Cost Share Practices on Horse Farms Tis bill, which awaits the Governor’s signature, specifically recognizes
certain “fixed natural filter practices” that will be eligible for cost share funds. Included are options particularly useful to horse farms, such as “pasture management, including rotational grazing, livestock fencing and watering systems implemented as part of the conversion of cropland to pasture.”
Other Legislation
Heads Up! On-Coming Traffic! MHC opposed a bill that would allow, under certain circumstances,
drivers on two-lane roads to drive on the opposite side of the road in a no-passing zone in order to overtake and pass a bicycle, as this presents a serious danger for those hauling horse trailers who do not have the ability to easily avoid a head-on collision with oncoming traffic. Te bill passed, so heads up everyone.
DNR Attempts To Tidy Up the Laws Governing Sunday Hunting Over the past couple of decades, the law that initially banned any Sun-
day hunting anywhere in the state has been chipped away at, amended, and added to in a piecemeal and patchwork fashion, so that the law had become incredibly complex and difficult to read and comprehend. At the request of some members of the Legislature, DNR completely redrafted the section of MD law that governs where and when hunting on Sun- days is allowed. Ostensibly, the bill was just a “clean up,” with no changes to existing law. Careful review by MHC, however, revealed that the bill as proposed by DNR did, in fact, make a major change in existing law. In existing law, Sunday hunting is only allowed on public land in six coun- ties: Allegany, Cecil, Frederick, Garrett, St. Mary’s (except State Parks) and Washington. Te new bill would have opened public lands to Sunday hunting everywhere in the state, except for lands in the State Park Sys- tem. Te Horse Council opposed the bill for this reason; DNR agreed to amend the bill to meet our concerns, and the bill passed.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
