Legislators are negotiating an agreement to eliminate the last obstacle to the bill that will punish animal abuse with imprisonment. By doing so, they will be able to start the second reading.
The controversy is related to the definition of “animal” in the new law. The Constitutional Chamber concluded that the concept included in the text is very broad.
According to this definition, animals are “nonhuman mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and octopods.” Abusing of such species carries economic fines and penalties of up to 2 years in prison.
When the plenary received the answer from the Fourth Chamber, the draft was sent to the Constitutional Consultation Commission, which must present a report to the plenary.
While lawmakers are trying to reach an agreement, academics make suggestions and conservationist organizations call for the exclusion of wildlife from the project approved in first reading on November 1st, 2016.
Carlos Arguedas, chairman of the Constitutional Consultation Commission, said that they are working on an agreement that includes several options to reach a concerted and satisfactory solution.
Legislator Marcela Guerrero, from Partido Acción Ciudadana (PAC), agreed that negotiations could reach an agreement.
Academic sectors recommended to define animals as domesticated beings, pets with or without known owner and those of any kind used in public or private shows.