Some bills make it illegal to take photographs at a farming operation. Others make it a crime for someone such as an animal welfare advocate to lie on an application to get a job at a plant. Both incidents have occured in the past at several locations in Middle Tennessee.
Bills pending in California, Nebraska and Tennessee require that anyone collecting evidence of abuse turn it over to law enforcement within 24 to 48 hours – which advocates say does not allow enough time to document illegal activity under federal humane handling and food safety laws.
Critics say the bills are an effort to deny consumers the ability to know how their food is produced. The bill in question will be before the Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Wednesday (3/20/13).
More on the actual bill in Tennessee:
Animal Cruelty and Abuse - As introduced, requires a person who records cruelty to animals as committed against livestock to report such violation and submit any unedited photographs or video recordings to law enforcement authorities within 24 hours of the photograph's or recording’s creation. - Amends TCA Title 39 and Title 44.
Source:
Tennessee General Assembly
Follow the bill