2017 -- H 6034

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LC002269

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - DEPARTMENT OF

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT - PETS

     Introduced By: Representatives Shanley, Bennett, Regunberg, Blazejewski, and Tanzi

     Date Introduced: March 30, 2017

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 42-17.1-45 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-17.1 entitled

"Department of Environmental Management" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     42-17.1-45. No prohibition on pets.

     (a) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, the department shall not

promulgate or enforce any rule or regulation that would prohibit a pet dog or cat from

accompanying its owner or caretaker at any state owned campground.

     (b) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or any of the applicable provisions of

chapters 1, 4, and 11 of title 4 to the contrary, the department shall not prohibit any domesticated

psittacine birds as defined in §4-11-1 from accompanying its owner or caretaker at any state-

owned campground, provided that there are no greater than two (2) domesticated psittacine birds

per campsite and the domesticated psittacine birds are confined at all times in a recreational

vehicle or camper occupying a campsite.

     (c) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, nothing in this section

shall prohibit a department of environmental management employee from:

     (1) Deeming a pet a nuisance and requiring its owner or caretaker to remove it from any

state-owned campground;

     (2) Enforcing the provisions of chapter 11 of title 4 relating to psittacine birds; or

     (3) Implementing any emergency restrictions of local, state or federal government

establishing a control zone for animal disease response.

     (b)(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, nothing in this

section shall be deemed to allow pets within any state beach facility that includes a bathing beach

licensed by the department of health pursuant to chapter 21 of title 23, unless the bathing beach

portion of the facility is sufficiently isolated from other public areas within the facility.

     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 STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - DEPARTMENT OF

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT - PETS

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     This act would allow psittacine birds (parrots and parakeets) to accompany their owners

at state-owned campgrounds, subject to the restrictions enumerated.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC002269

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