BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) – A bill meant to crack down on animal abusers in the wake of the heartbreaking Puppy Doe case is stuck in limbo on Beacon Hill, and can't even get a hearing scheduled.
One Republican State Senator says it's because a key committee chair position hasn't been filled.
"The fact is the Puppy Doe legislation along with lots of other important public safety bills are actually tied up in a judiciary committee that's broken down," said Sen Bruce Tarr, the Minority Leader and Republican from Gloucester who sponsored the bill.
"Unfortunately the judiciary committee right now is operating without a house chair. And the way the rules work, both chairs have to agree to hold executive sessions and to be able to move bills through the committee. And even to have public hearings on bills, and that's what's happening with the PAWS Act. The animal safety legislation we filed months ago hasn't even been able to get a public hearing."
Another high profile bill with bipartisan support that's being held up is parole eligibility for juveniles convicted of murder. That bill would require juveniles convicted of first degree murder to serve a minimum of 35 years before becoming eligible for parole.
In January, former Rep Eugene O'Flaherty left his job as House Judiciary Chair to join mayor Boston Mayor Marty Walsh's administration.
Since then house speaker robert deleo hasn't filled his job.
Deleo has not said why, but a spokesman told us the Speaker does believe the committee is functioning with Vice Chairman Christopher Markey in charge.
"We have had hearings on over 500 bills through the course of this term. We have about 200 left," said Vice Chairman Markey.
Markey says the way the rules are written, more hearings can't be scheduled just yet until the Senate approves it...and he expects that will happen shortly.
"It's moving forward. It may not be at everyone's speed but I'm certain at the end of this term, we'll have a hearing on all of these matters."
Formal sessions of the legislature will end in July. Senator Will Brownsberger, who is in charge of the senate side of the judiciary committee, tells us while the lack of a house chair is slowing things down, they are working to get things done. He says he is confident all bills will get hearings, possibly by May.
