2014 -- H 7480 AS AMENDED

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LC004503

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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 - ANIMAL DISEASES IN

GENERAL

     Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Costantino, Ackerman, Ruggiero, and Serpa

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2014

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

     (Environmental Management)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 4-4-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 4-4 entitled "Animal Diseases

in General" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     4-4-1. Appointment of commissioners to inspect diseased animals -- Quarantine --

Veterinarians. -- Appointment of inspectors to inspect diseased animals -- Quarantine --

Veterinarians. – (a) The director of environmental management may appoint one or more

commissioners inspectors in each county of the state, whose duty it is to visit and inquire into the

condition of any domestic animal in their respective counties the state whenever there is reason

to suspect that any domestic animal, or the carcass of any domestic animal or tissues or products,

is affected with tuberculosis, or other contagious, infectious, or communicable disease; and the

commissioners in their counties inspectors are authorized to quarantine any diseased domestic

animal, or the carcass of any diseased domestic animal, or restrict the movement of any tissues or

products produced by any domestic animal until such quarantine or movement restriction is

released inspected by the a veterinarian employed by the director. The director may also employ

from time to time any number of veterinary surgeons that he or she may find necessary to carry

out the purposes of this chapter.

     (b) This chapter shall apply to all animals as defined in § 4-13.1-2(2) and any animal

exempt from the requirements of § 4-18-3.

     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 - ANIMAL DISEASES IN

GENERAL

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     This act would allow the director of environmental management to appoint one or more

inspectors in the state rather than a commissioner in each county to inquire into the condition of

any domestic animal. It would be the duty of the inspector to visit and inquire into the condition

of any domestic animal where there is any suspicion of infection or tuberculosis or other

contagious or communicable disease either to that animal or carcass of that animal or to the

tissues or products of that animal. This act would also authorize the inspector to restrict the

movement of any tissue or product produced by any domestic animal.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC004503

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