2015 -- H 5678

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LC001483

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- ANIMAL CARE

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Palangio, Serpa, Winfield, Regunberg, and Lima

     Date Introduced: February 26, 2015

     Referred To: House Municipal Government

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 4-19 of the General Laws entitled "Animal Care" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     4-19-22. Animal control officers. – (a) Effective January 1, 2016, no municipality shall

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certify and/or hire for employment any animal control officer who has not received certification

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to be an animal control officer from the National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA).

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     (b) The department of environmental management is hereby empowered to promulgate

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rules and regulations regarding the training and certification of animal control officers by NACA

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and shall provide for a training and certification program to be conducted by the NACA. The

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department shall have one hundred twenty (120) days from the passage of this act to promulgate

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the rules and regulations required hereunder.

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     (c) The training and certification program required by subsection (b) of this section shall

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incorporate instruction that shall meet NACA guidelines for certification, including, but not

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limited to, to the following criteria:

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     (1) Laws and regulations affecting animal control, animal welfare, and animal cruelty;

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     (2) Domestic and wild animal behavior;

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     (3) Handling and treatment of deceased or stray animals;

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     (4) Emergency procedures and conflict resolution skills; and

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     (5) The use of firearms and tranquilizers guns.

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     (d) All municipal animal control officers employed as of the passage of this act shall be

 

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exempt from the provisions of this section.

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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 -- ANIMAL CARE

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     This act would require that municipal animal control officers be certified by the National

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Animal Care & Control Association.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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