Humane Society Legislative Fund

“OFFICERS KARL, WAITE, BARSNESS, REESE, MOCHI, AND PARRA WERE EMPLOYED BY ANOTHER ORGANIZATION ON WHOSE BOARD DIRECTORS LAUE, COUPE, WIEBERS, CESAK, LINEHAN, ATHERTON AND SABATINO SERVED. THEREFORE, THESE INDIVIDUALS HAD "BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS" WITH EACH OTHER. - Business relationship”

“The members of the corporation shall consist of persons who support the corporation's purposes and who affirmatively respond to the corporation's invitation to join. Members shall pay annual dues in such amount as shall be determined by the board of directors. Any person who responds affirmatively to an invitation to become a member of the humane society legislative fund (hslf) and either 1) makes a single contribution of ten dollars ($10) or more to hslf as membership dues, or 2) makes a series of contributions that total ten dollars ($10) or more in the aggregate within four (4) months after the date of the first contribution shall be considered a member of hslf for the twelve-month period ending on the anniversary date on which hslf has determined that an aggregate of ten dollars has been reached in the case of contributors described in section 2, above.”

“After internal accounting staff drafts the 990, the draft is submitted to hslf's independent tax preparers for their review and revision, as may be appropriate. The revised draft is then given to hslf's treasurer for further review. Once all staff and professional reviews/revisions are done, the treasurer sends the proposed final of the form 990 to the hslf board for its consideration. Once the board has had an opportunity to review and comment, the finalized version is filed with the irs.”

“Hslf is an affiliate of the humane society of the united states (hsus). All policies and procedures of the hsus apply to hslf including, inter alia, those codified in the current hsus employee handbook. In cases where the literal reading of the hsus policies and procedures may or could cause confusion (e.g., the hsus conflict of interest policy's references to hsus directors), for purposes of internal hslf activities, these policies will be read to apply as close as possible to hslf, making substitutions in terminology as necessary to achieve the desired goal. In case of any conflict between the policies and procedures of the hsus and hslf, the stricter will control. Hslf has adopted a conflict of interest policy to reinforce the obligation of officers and directors to disclose actual or potential conflicts. The policy covers hslf officers and directors. Hslf board members and/or officers who are directors or senior staff members of the hsus are subject to additional annual reporting requirements in those capacities. A decision as to whether a conflict exists and how it should be addressed with regard to hslf is made at the hslf executive level or, if necessary, by its board. Consideration of possible conflicts is also provided during the legal review of proposed transactions and concerns are addressed before proceeding. Individuals having possible conflicts of interest cannot vote or participate in board or committee deliberations on the subject or to be counted toward meeting a quorum; however, they may respond to questions.”

“Hslf makes its articles of incorporation and bylaws available to donors free of charge upon request. Formal audited financial statements are filed with state charitable solicitation registrations and are made available to major donors and, where required by state law, to the general public by mail upon request. Hslf makes copies of its form 1024 application for recognition of tax-exempt status available to the public upon request both by mail and in person at hslf's headquarters in washington, dc. Hslf makes copies of the three most recently-filed forms 990 available to the public upon request both by mail and in person at hslf's headquarters in washington, dc, as well as on hslf's website, as set forth in irs code section 6104(d). The conflict of interest policy has not been made available to the general public.”

“Humane society legislative fund's (hslf) mission is to undertake and support programs designed to enhance and protect the status of animals through education of the public and mobilization of public opinion and through the reform of laws, enactment of remedial legislation and changes in public policy. The goal of hslf is to advance social welfare by helping to pass state and federal laws that protect animals from cruelty, suffering, and unnecessary killing and use.”

“Continued from part iii, line 4a (1 of 1) the fy20 appropriations bill provided $295,000 more for enforcement of the hpa, and renewed the prohibition of licensing/re-licensing "class b" random source dealers of animals. The bill maintained level funding for the u.s. Fish and wildlife service's programs that protect species under the endangered species act as well as the office of law enforcement, and dedicated funds to fight wildlife trafficking enforcement. It also provided increased funding for alternatives to animal tests and $2 million for the implementation of the pet and women safety (paws) act, which was included in the final version of the agriculture improvement act of 2018 (h.r. 2). Finally, the bill provided $3 million to the national oceanic and atmospheric administration for north atlantic right whale conservation. Federal affairs worked in support of animal protection bills, including the preventing animal cruelty and torture (pact) act (h.r. 724/s. 479); the shark fin sales elimination act (h.r. 737/s. 877) which passed the house; the prevent all soring tactics (past) act (h.r. 693/s. 1007) which passed the house; the safeguard american food exports (safe) act (h.r. 961/s. 2006); the welfare of our friends (woof) act (h.r. 1002); the providing responsible emergency plans for animals at risk of emerging disasters (prepared) act (h.r. 1042); the big cat public safety act (h.r. 1380/s. 2561); the horseracing integrity act (h.r. 1754;/s. 1820); the prohibiting threatened and endangered creature trophies (protect) act (h.r. 4804); the rescuing animals with rewards (rawr) act of 2019 (h.r. 97/s. 1590) which was signed into law; the puppy protection act of 2019 (h.r. 2442); the scientific assistance for very endangered north atlantic right whales (save right whales) act (h.r. 1568); protect america's wildlife and fish in need of conservation act of 2019 (h.r. 4348/s. 2491); and the humane cosmetics act (h.r. 5141). Federal affairs opposed the empowering rural economies through alaska native sustainable arts and handicrafts act (s.804/h.r.1806). Federal affairs staff participated in the signing of the preventing animal cruelty and torture (pact) act into law by the president, with members of congress and stakeholders. This law strengthens the 2010 federal animal "crush video" law by banning extreme animal cruelty in or affecting interstate commerce regardless of whether a video was produced. Federal affairs is working with stakeholders and the bureau of land management (blm) on a proposal to require blm to use non-lethal methods to manage wild horses and burros on federal land. Federal affairs supported a decision by blm to return to a 2014 policy that allows individuals and organizations to buy only four (as opposed to 25 from previous years) wild horses over a six-month period to help insure these animals are not sent to slaughter. Federal affairs also supported the environmental protection agency's decision to phase out all animal testing on mammals for chemicals and pesticides by 2035 and to devote $4.25 million to the development of non-animal technologies at five universities. Federal affairs continued to support the health and human services department's efforts to strengthen its commitment to replacing, reducing, and/or refining animal studies. Federal affairs also supported the food and drug administration's adoption of an internal policy that would allow for the adoption, or retirement to sanctuary, of animals formerly used in fda research. Additionally, federal affairs opposed the national institutes of health's decision not to retire the remaining 44 chimpanzees held at the alamogordo primate laboratory to the federal sanctuary chimp haven, as they are statutorily obligated. Federal affairs continued support of the u.s. Department of veterans affairs memorandum of agreement with the humane society of the united states to support veterans' well-being and social integration through interactions with and adopti”

“CONTINUED FROM PART III, LINE 4b (1 OF 1) COALITION-BUILDING: HSLF CONTINUES RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING ON AREAS OF COMMON INTEREST WITH INDUSTRY TRADE ASSOCIATIONS AND THEIR INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS AND "THINK-TANKS" FOR FEDERAL AND INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY TOXICOLOGY WORK.”

“The Humane Society of the United States pays wages to the employees of HSLF and files all required federal employment tax returns, including Form W-3. HSLF does not report employees on Form W-3.”

“The process for overseeing the audit of the financial statements and selection of an independent accountant that audited the financial statements has been consistent with prior years. The audited financial statements are reviewed by the board which acts as its own committee.”