2012 -- H 7140

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LC00523

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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A N A C T

RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- ANIMAL ABUSER REGISTRY

     Introduced By: Representatives Petrarca, Corvese, Winfield, Keable, and Azzinaro

     Date Introduced: January 17, 2012

     Referred To: House Judiciary

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 4-1 of the General Laws entitled "Cruelty to Animals" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     4-1-41. Animal abuse registry. – (a) For purposes of this section, an "animal abuser"

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means a person over eighteen (18) years of age who has been convicted of an offense defined as a

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felony in this chapter or in the comparable laws of another state.

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     (b) Any animal abuser physically within the boundaries of this state for more than ten

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(10) consecutive days shall register with the chief of police of the city or town in which the

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animal abuser is located before the end of the eleventh (11th) day in the state.

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     (c) Any previously-registered animal abuser shall reregister with the chief of police of the

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city or town in which the animal abuser is located no later than ten (10) days after moving to a

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new location within the state.

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     (d) The animal abuser shall provide the following registration information:

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     (1) The legal name and any other names or aliases that the animal abuser is using or has

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used;

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     (2) The date of birth of the animal abuser;

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     (3) The social security number of the animal abuser;

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     (4) The current address or location of the animal abuser;

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     (5) The place of employment of the animal abuser;

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     (6) The animal protection offense for which the animal abuser was convicted; and

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     (7) The date and place of the animal protection offense conviction of the animal abuser.

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     (e) When an animal abuser registers, the chief of police shall obtain:

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     (1) A photograph of the animal abuser and a complete set of the animal abuser's

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fingerprints; and

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     (2) A description of any tattoos, scars or other distinguishing features on the animal

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abuser's body that would assist in identifying the animal abuser.

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     (f) Following an animal abuser's initial registration pursuant to the provisions of this

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section, an animal abuser shall annually renew the animal abuser's registration with the chief of

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police prior to December 31 of each subsequent calendar year for a period of fifteen (15) years.

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     (g) An animal abuser who intentionally or knowingly fails to comply with the registration

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requirements, or provides false information when complying with the registration requirements

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set forth in this section, is guilty of a felony and shall be fined not exceeding one thousand five

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hundred dollars ($1,500) or imprisoned not more than two (2) years, or both.

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     (h) Each chief of police shall maintain a local registry of animal abusers in the chief of

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police's jurisdiction required to register pursuant to this section.

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     (1) The chief of police shall forward all registration information obtained from animal

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abusers to the attorney general.

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     (2) Within ten (10) days of receiving initial registration information from an animal

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abuser, the chief of police shall contact every residence, school, humane society, animal shelter

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and any other business within a half mile radius of the animal abuser's residence or location, and

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provide them with the animal abuser's registration information, with the exception of the animal

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abuser's social security number.

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     (i) The attorney general shall maintain a central registry of animal abusers required to

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register pursuant to the provisions of this section. The central registry of animal abusers shall be

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made available to the public through internet access, telephone access, written access and in-

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person access. All of the information contained in an animal abuser's registration, with the

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exception of the animal abuser's social security number, shall be made available. Records of each

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animal abuser's registration shall be maintained for the duration of the fifteen (15) year period in

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which the animal abuser is required to be registered.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2012.

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LC00523

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- ANIMAL ABUSER REGISTRY

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     This act would create an animal abuser registry and would provide for penalties for

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failure to register.

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     This act shall take effect on July 1, 2012.

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LC00523

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