(AP) — Animal welfare advocates spoke in support of a bill that would stop people from owning animals if they had been convicted of mistreating animals.

People favoring the bill Friday before the Judiciary Committee included representatives of the Nebraska Humane Society and an animal shelter.

Sen. Ernie Chambers, of Omaha, introduced the bill.

Chambers noted that people convicted of misdemeanor cruel mistreatment can be restricted from owning or living with an animal for up to five years, but the ban can’t be applied toward someone convicted of misdemeanor cruel neglect.

Chambers says the main difference between the two types of cruelty is how they are inflicted, but the animals can suffer equally.

No one testified against the bill and the committee took no immediate action.