2015 -- S 0253

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LC000163

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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 -- CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

     Introduced By: Senators Walaska, Ciccone, and McCaffrey

     Date Introduced: February 11, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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

amended by adding thereto the following section:

     4-1-43. Animal abuse registry. – (a) For purposes of this section, an "animal abuser"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

new location within the state.

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

     (1) Their legal name and any other names or aliases they are using or have used;

     (2) Their date of birth;

     (3) Their social security number;

     (4) Their current address or location;

     (5) Their place of employment;

     (6) The animal protection offense for which they were convicted; and

     (7) The date and place of their conviction.

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

     (1) A photograph and a complete set of fingerprints; and

     (2) A description of any tattoos, scars or other distinguishing features that would assist in

identifying the individual.

     (f) Following an individual's initial registration pursuant to the provisions of this section,

the individual shall annually renew the animal abuser's registration with the chief of police prior

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

abusers to the attorney general.

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

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

and any other business within a half (1/2) mile radius of the individual's residence or location, and

provide them with the individual's identity and registration information, with the exception of the

individual's social security number.

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

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

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

person access. All of the information contained in the registration, with the exception of

individual social security numbers, shall be made available. Records of each individual

registration shall be maintained for the duration of the fifteen (15) year period in which the

animal abuser is required to be registered.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC000163

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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 create an animal abuser registry and would provide for penalties for

failure to register.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC000163

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