2018 -- H 7986

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LC005214

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

     Introduced By: Representatives O'Brien, Almeida, Williams, McEntee, and Ucci

     Date Introduced: March 22, 2018

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 4-1-37 of the General Laws in Chapter 4-1 entitled "Cruelty to

Animals" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     4-1-37. Immunity from suit.

     Any person entrusted with the care and custody of an animal, including, but not limited

to, any Rhode Island licensed veterinarian, veterinarian technician, animal shelter or animal

kennel, shall be held harmless from either criminal or civil liability arising out of any reports,

either oral or written, made to local and/or state police, animal control officials or officers of

private organizations devoted to humane treatment of animals, concerning any animal that the

veterinarian knows or reasonably believed to be abandoned, neglected, or abused, and shall be

immune from suit by reason of making the report. Provided, however, that a veterinarian who

participates or reports in bad faith or with malice shall not be protected under the provisions of

this section chapter.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 4-1 of the General Laws entitled "Cruelty to Animals" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following section:

     4-1-26.1. Reports of abandoned, neglected or abused animals.

     (a) Any Rhode Island licensed veterinarian, veterinarian technician, animal shelter,

animal kennel or other person entrusted with the care or custody of an animal shall report to any

police department (local or state), animal control officials or officers of private organizations

devoted to the humane treatment of animals, the condition of any animal that the parties entrusted

with care or custody of an animal knows or reasonably believes to be abandoned, as defined in §

4-1-26, neglected, or abused, and shall be immune from suit pursuant to the provisions of § 4-1-

37. Any party who fails to report pursuant to this section shall be fined not exceeding five

hundred dollars ($500).

     (b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to impose a duty to further investigate

observed or reasonably suspected animal abandonment, cruel neglect, or abuse.

     SECTION 3. 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 -- CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

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     This act would require any person entrusted with care and control of an animal to report

cruelty thereto to the proper authorities and shall also be granted immunity for a good faith report.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC005214

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