CHANDLER, AZ -- A Senate committee Monday narrowly approved a controversial bill that would exempt scientific experiments in research laboratories from Arizona's animal cruelty statutes.
Senate Bill 1159 passed by a slim 4 to 3 vote. The bill will now move to the full Senate.
SB1159 would exclude scientific testing performed in federally regulated research facilities, such as
Covance in Chandler, from Arizona's animal cruelty laws.
Supporters of the bill say it would eliminate ambiguity between state and federal agencies as to who has oversight over the laboratories.
But opponents of the bill say Arizona should have the right to enforce its own animal cruelty laws and should not give that right up.
Several of the Senators who voted no had concerns about facilities that do animal testing for cosmetic purposes and not medical research.
The Senators said in the hearing Monday they do not want those laboratories excluded.
No date has been set yet for when the bill will be heard on the Senate floor.
