On Tuesday, a House committee discussed a bill that would allow animal organizations to petition former guardians to pay the costs of caring for their mistreated companion animals. Currently, fiscal responsibility falls on local animal shelters and animal-welfare groups, who can spend upwards of $100,000 annually on the animals in their care. Opponents of the bill claim it would be unfair to the accused, who would, if acquitted, only receive back the portion of the money not used to aid the animal. The bill was sent back down to a subcommittee for further review.