2016 -- H 7317

========

LC003995

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives O'Brien, Serpa, Lima, Marshall, and McKiernan

     Date Introduced: January 22, 2016

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     (Attorney General)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

1

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

2

Animals" is hereby amended to read as follows:

3

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

4

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

5

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

6

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

7

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

8

not exceeding two (2) five (5) years or be fined not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), and

9

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

10

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

11

required to serve ten (10) fifty (50) hours of community restitution. The community restitution

12

penalty shall not be suspended or deferred and is mandatory.

13

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

14

business killing animals for human consumption.

15

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC003995

========

 

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

***

1

     This act would increase the penalty for cruelty to animals, the malicious injury or killing

2

of animals, from not more than two (2) years to not more than five (5) years, and would increase

3

the mandatory community service from ten (10) hours to fifty (50) hours.

4

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC003995

========

 

LC003995 - Page 2 of 2