Hartford – The state legislature’s judiciary committee is giving state Rep. Diana Urban's court animal advocate bill a public hearing, said spokesman Bob Douglas.

Douglas said the hearing has not yet been scheduled. Urban, D-North Stonington, held a press conference Thursday at the state Capitol to promote her bill, which would allow for the appointment of an animal advocate in court cases involving animals.

According to a press release, Asa Palmer, a senior at Wheeler High School in North Stonington, attended the press conference. Two men have been arrested in connection with the shooting of two of Palmer’s cows on his family’s farm in North Stonington last month.

Urban started “The Angel Fund,” named after one of the cows, in cooperation with Chelsea Bank after the shooting. Douglas said about $11,000 has been raised as of Thursday.