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Legislation designed to keep people convicted of animal abuse or neglect from getting a pet cleared the state Senate Thursday.
Under the two-bill package, a person with animal abuse or neglect offenses on their record would be prohibited from adopting a pet for five years.
Legislative sponsor, State Senator Rick Jones, says the bills also waive the fee for non-profit animal shelters to access a statewide database to perform background checks on those wanting to adopt an animal.
The lone no vote on the bills, Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof, says he feels the legislation gets too close to equating animals with humans.
The legislation now heads to the House.
