2018 -- S 2980

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LC005588

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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 -- DISPOSITION OF RESEARCH

ANIMALS

     Introduced By: Senators Ruggerio, and Archambault

     Date Introduced: June 19, 2018

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Title 4 of the General Laws entitled "ANIMALS AND ANIMAL

HUSBANDRY" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

CHAPTER 27

RETIREMENT OF RESEARCH DOGS AND CATS

     4-27-1. Short title.

     This act shall be known and may cited as the "Research Animal Retirement Act."

     4-27-2. Research dogs and cats -- Retirement.

     (a) A higher education research facility that receives public money, including tax-exempt

status, or a facility that provides research in collaboration with a higher education facility shall,

after the completion of any testing or research involving a dog or cat, assess the health of the dog

or cat and determine whether it is suitable for adoption. Such facility shall thereafter make

reasonable efforts to offer for adoption the dog or cat determined to be suitable for adoption,

either through private placement or through an animal rescue and shelter organization, a duly

incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, a duly incorporated humane society,

or a duly incorporated animal protective association that operates physical animal sheltering

facilities and offers household pets to the public for adoption by way of an established adoption

program. These efforts shall be made prior to euthanizing such dog or cat. Nothing in this section

shall create a duty upon such an organization, association or society to accept a dog or cat offered

by a higher education research facility for adoption.

     (b) A facility that is required to offer dogs or cats for adoption under this section may

enter into an agreement with an animal rescue and shelter organization, a duly incorporated

society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, a duly incorporated humane society, or a duly

incorporated animal protective association that operates physical animal sheltering facilities and

offers household pets to the public for adoption by way of an established adoption program.

     (c) The attending or institutional veterinarian at a facility that is required to offer dogs or

cats for adoption under this section shall have the authority to assess the health of an animal and

determine whether an animal is suitable for adoption.

     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 -- DISPOSITION OF RESEARCH

ANIMALS

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     This act would require educational institutions using dogs or cats for medical research to

make animals no longer useful for research available for adoption.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC005588

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