2014 -- H 7374

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY - CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives O'Brien, Almeida, McNamara, Keable, and Kazarian

     Date Introduced: February 06, 2014

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 4-1-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 4-1 entitled "Cruelty to

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Animals" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     4-1-5. Malicious injury to or killing of animals. -- (a) Every person who cuts out the

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tongue or otherwise dismembers any animal, maliciously, or maliciously kills or wounds any

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animal, or maliciously administers poison to or exposes any poisonous substance with intent that

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the poison shall be taken or swallowed by any animal, or who maliciously exposes poisoned meat

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with intent that the poison meat is taken or swallowed by any wild animal, shall be imprisoned

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not exceeding two (2) four (4) years or be fined not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), and

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shall, in the case of any animal of another, be liable to the owner of this animal for triple

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damages, to be recovered by civil action. In addition, any person convicted under this section is

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required to serve ten (10) twenty (20) hours of community restitution. The community restitution

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penalty shall not be suspended or deferred and is mandatory.

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      (b) This section shall not apply to licensed hunters during hunting season or a licensed

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business killing animals for human consumption.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY - CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

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     This act would double the maximum prison sentence from two (2) to four (4) years for

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the malicious injury or killing of animals.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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