2017 -- S 0561

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LC001343

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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 ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- DOGS

     Introduced By: Senators Archambault, Sosnowski, Miller, Conley, and Calkin

     Date Introduced: March 15, 2017

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

     (Dept. of Environmental Management)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 4-13-1.3 of the General Laws in Chapter 4-13 entitled "Dogs" is

hereby amended to read as follows:

     4-13-1.3. Rabies control board.

     (a) There shall be a rabies control board consisting of seven (7) people as follows:

     (1) The director of the Rhode Island department of environmental management, or his or

her designee;

     (2) The director of the Rhode Island department of health, or his or her designee;

     (3) A Rhode Island licensed veterinarian, appointed by the governor, who is a member of

the Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association;

     (4) A livestock farmer, appointed by the governor, who is a member of the Rhode Island

Farm Bureau;

     (5) A member of a recognized Rhode Island humane group (such as the Rhode Island

Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), appointed by the governor;

     (6) The state veterinarian, who shall serve as chairperson;

     (7) A member of the Rhode Island Animal Control Association, person employed as an

animal control officer by a Rhode Island municipality, and who is recommended to serve on the

rabies control board by the league of cities and towns, and who is appointed by the governor.

     (b) All appointments made under this section after April 20, 2006 shall be subject to the

advice and consent of the senate. The members of the board shall serve without compensation.

The board members from the departments of health and environmental management shall serve at

the discretion of their directors. The state veterinarian shall serve without term. Nongovernmental

members shall serve for a period of three (3) years and reappointments shall be made by the

governor with the advice and consent of the senate.

     (c) Vacancies for citizen members shall be filled by appointment, in the same manner as

the original appointment, for the unexpired term only. Four (4) members of the board shall

constitute a quorum.

     (d) Members of the board shall be removable by the governor pursuant to § 36-1-7 of the

general laws and for cause only. Removal solely for partisan or personal reasons unrelated to

capacity or fitness for the office shall be unlawful.

     (e) The board may elect from among its members such other officers as they deem

necessary.

     (f) The director of the department of environmental management shall direct staff to

support the board within the constraints of available resources.

     (g) Within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year, the board shall approve and

submit an annual report to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the president

of the senate, and the secretary of state of its activities during that fiscal year. The report shall

provide: an operating statement summarizing meetings or hearings held, including meeting

minutes, subjects addressed, decisions rendered, rules or regulations promulgated, studies

conducted, policies and plans developed, approved or modified, and programs administered or

initiated; a consolidated financial statement of all funds received and expended, including the

source of the funds, a listing of any staff supported by these funds, a summary of any clerical,

administrative, or technical support received; a summary of performance during the previous

fiscal year including accomplishments, shortcomings, and remedies; a synopsis of any legal

matters related to the authority of the board; a summary of any training courses held pursuant to

subsection (h); a briefing on anticipated activities in the upcoming fiscal year; and findings and

recommendations for improvements. The report shall be posted electronically as prescribed in §

42-20-8.2. The director of the department of administration shall be responsible for the

enforcement of this provision.

     (h) Newly appointed and qualified members and new designees of ex officio members of

the board are required to complete a training course within six (6) months of their qualification or

designation. The course shall be developed by the chair of the board, approved by the board, and

conducted by the chair of the board. The board may approve the use of any board or staff

members or other individuals to assist with training. The course shall include instruction in the

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following areas: chapters 13 of title 4, 46 of title 42, 14 of title 36 and 2 of title 38; and the

board's rules and regulations. The director of the department of administration shall, within ninety

(90) days of April 20, 2006, prepare and disseminate training materials relating to the provisions

of chapters 46 of title 42, 14 of title 36 and 2 of title 38.

     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 -- DOGS

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     This act would appoint an animal control officer to the rabies control board.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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