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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Thomas Caltagirone |
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Caltagirone: Judiciary Committee approves five bills
HARRISBURG, Jan. 27 – State Rep. Tom Caltagirone, D-Berks, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said the committee today approved five bills, including his legislation to prevent animal cruelty, during its first voting meeting of the 2009-10 legislative session.
Caltagirone's bill, H.B. 39 (formerly H.B. 2532), would improve the state's animal cruelty law by prohibiting owners and breeders from performing surgical procedures, including debarking (cutting or destroying a dog’s vocal cords) and cesarean sections. Under Caltagirone's proposal, those procedures would have to be performed by a veterinarian.
The following bills also were approved by the committee:
House Bill 65, introduced by state Rep. Don Walko, D-Allegheny, would create a new state board to oversee three groups of professionals -- bounty hunters, private investigators and security professionals.
House Bill 68, introduced by state Rep. Tim Solobay, D-Washington, would increase the amount banks and financial institutions must provide to the survivors of deceased account holders for funeral expenses to $15,000, up from $3,500.
House Bill 72, introduced by state Rep. Ron Marsico, R-Dauphin, would reauthorize the state's Wiretap Act.
House Bill 73, introduced by state Rep. Paul Costa, D-Allegheny, would give senior citizens who are 70 or older the option to opt out of serving jury duty.