Should this bill pass, it will affect both bird breeders and hand-feeders within Massachusetts, as well as any state involved with the transporting of unweaned chicks across Massachusetts state lines because it requires chicks to remain with the breeder until weaned. It can also impact breeders and retailers by limiting them from utilizing experienced and talented hand feeders with proven expertise that have been relied upon with past success. The USDA will also establish rules and regulations for age and size of each bird species, with annual reviews.

For additional Information see the web page of AFA Northeast Regional Director Linda Rubin - Click Here

American Federation of Aviculture, Inc.

The following information was sent to all area Clubs by Linda S. Rubin, Northeast Regional Director, American Federation of Agriculture, Inc.

Dear AFA MA, NH, and RI State Coordinators and Clubs,

I am writing to alert you to a bill in Massachusetts, Senate Bill 2195, that will BAN THE SALE OF UNWEANED BABY BIRDS!!! We need to OPPOSE it!!

Please open the attached Word document, which will explain the bill and provide resources for you. AFA State Coordinators, please contact the clubs and delegates in your state to alert them to this information; I've included some additional club contacts that I've been able to find.

It that we immediately alert all breeders and hand-feeders to OPPOSE this bill now! The time for public comment has passed - this bill was introduced last year - but we can still respond by writing letters!

YOUR LETTER DOES COUNT and will make a DIFFERENCE!

Working together for aviculture,

Linda S. Rubin

Northeast Regional Director

American Federation of Aviculture, Inc.

www.afabirds.org

Text of Message:

Massachusetts

Bill: 2195

http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/st02/st02195.htm

Introduced: Senate & House of Representatives

Sponsored By: Senator Mike W. Morrissey

http://www.mass.gov/legis/member/mwm0.htm

Representative Robert Nyman (State Representative)

http://www.mass.gov/legis/member/rjn1.htm

Status: Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business

http://www.mass.gov/legis/comm/j47.htm

Intent: No commercial establishment, pet shop, firm or corporation shall import into the commonwealth for sale or resale in the commonwealth any Unweaned Bird.

Effect: This will affect all pet shops and retail bird sellers including brokers prohibiting them from selling unweaned chicks. The Department of Food and Agriculture will establish rules and regulations as to what age and size each species of bird must be before being sold. Unweaned birds cannot be sold or transported into the State. Rules and regulations will be reviewed on an annual basis.

I encourage you all to read AFA’s official position statement on “The Sale of Unweaned Baby Birds” on the AFA website link added below. Also, please note, I have cut and pasted the last line from the AFA position statement (contained in quotes), following the link:

http://afabirds.org/pos_unweaned.shtml

“AFA OPPOSES any legislative or regulatory intrusion on issues of personal responsibility surrounding the transfer of unweaned baby birds by attempting to define or qualify who can or cannot provide proper care or hand rearing.”

Should this bill pass, it will affect both bird breeders and hand-feeders within Massachusetts, as well as any state involved with the transporting of unweaned chicks across Massachusetts state lines because it requires chicks to remain with the breeder until weaned. It can also impact breeders and retailers by limiting them from utilizing experienced and talented hand-feeders with proven expertise that have been relied upon with past success. The USDA will also establish rules and regulations for age and size of each bird species, with annual reviews.

I have just spoken with the aide to the bill’s sponsor, MA Senator Michael Morrisey, who informed me that the bill is still in the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business, which has yet to vote on it. Should the bill require funding, it will pass through Ways and Means, then to Senate Rules, where it requires three readings and a vote before it moves on to the House.

Although the opportunity for a public hearing has passed, WE STILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE LETTERS TO HAVE OUR VOICES HEARD!!

Please send your letters to OPPOSE Senate Bill 2195 to:

1) Senator Harriette Chandler

Chair, Community Development & Small Business

State House Room 312-D

Boston, MA 02133

Telephone: 617-722-1544

Fax: 617-722-1357

2) Representative David Torrisi

Joint Committee on Community Development & Small Business

State House Room 42

Boston, MA 02133

Telephone: 617-722-2379

E-mail: Rep.DavidTorrisi@hou.state.ma.us

3) A copy to your own State Senator

4) A copy to your own State Representative

If you do not know your state officials, you can find them online at www.wheredoivotema.com.

I ask you to follow this legislation closely and alert your club members and others in your area. We need your letters! To stay informed, I am providing the following links:

· AFA Legislative Link: http://afabirds.org/legislation_hot.shtml#MA

· A link to follow the historical and current progress of the bill:

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=mg2searchlanding&sid=massgov2&searchMassGov=2195&collectorName=LEGxBILLSxHISTORYx

At this time, we do not have an AFA Massachusetts State Coordinator in place and I am still looking for someone to fill this position, as well as openings for AFA State Coordinators in Eastern New York and Vermont. If you have any interest or know of others who do, please let me know.

If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me. I hope I can count on all of you to get the word out! We NEED to stand together and write letters to oppose this bill before it is too late!

Sincerely,

Linda S. Rubin
Northeast Regional Director
American Federation of Aviculture, Inc.
LSRafa@aol.com
617-469-0557
www.afabirds.org