Miller defends Board of Animal Health during HB 1412 discussion

Today, House Bill 1412 passed through the House of Representatives, setting forth regulations concerning the retail sale of dogs. State Rep. Kyle Miller (D-Fort Wayne) spoke against the bill on the House floor, citing concerns about the Indiana State Board of Animal Health’s limitations and a lack of transparency in the regulations.

Miller issued the following statement after the bill passed by a vote of 59-36:

“This bill disregards limitations the Indiana State Board of Animal Health currently face. The increased workload that this bill will entail – from random inspections to new regulations to enforce – has the potential to unnecessarily burden its workers. When workers are overburdened, it reduces their ability to properly oversee tasks at hand, including the random inspections this bill mandates. This legislation operates under the assumption that all mills – once registered with the Board of Animal Health – will bring themselves up to code with the newly-imposed regulations. If the Indiana State Board of Animal Health does not have the appropriate manpower to cover this large increase in businesses to inspect, there’s no guarantee that these hobby breeders and other facilities will actually follow through.

“Further, I take issue with the fact that this bill does not provide adequate transparency as to what the regulations for breeders and mills are. With no way of knowing what the standard will be, I could not in good conscious vote for the bill. Further, I am not in favor of voiding local ordinances. As state lawmakers, we should not be in the business of trampling local leaders’ ability to do what’s best for their communities.”