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:

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

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

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CHAPTER 27

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RETIREMENT OF RESEARCH DOGS AND CATS

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     4-27-1. Short title.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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by a higher education research facility for adoption.

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

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

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

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incorporated animal protective association that operates physical animal sheltering facilities and

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

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

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

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determine whether an animal is suitable for adoption.

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     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

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make animals no longer useful for research available for adoption.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC005588

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