2020 -- S 2463 | |
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LC004530 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- THE ANIMAL WELFARE | |
ADVISORY COUNCIL | |
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Introduced By: Senators McKenney, Coyne, Cano, Euer, and Sosnowski | |
Date Introduced: February 13, 2020 | |
Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Chapter 4-1 of the General Laws entitled "Cruelty to Animals" is hereby |
2 | amended by adding thereto the following section: |
3 | 4-1-44. Animal welfare advisory council established. |
4 | (a) There is hereby created and established an advisory council to be known as "The Rhode |
5 | Island animal welfare advisory council" (the "council"). The purpose of the council shall be to |
6 | advise the governor and the general assembly on matters relating to animal welfare, treatment, |
7 | health, and abuse, and to provide recommendations on how best to promote the health and safety |
8 | of companion animals in the state. As used in this section, "companion animal" means any animal |
9 | that is kept inside a residential dwelling and any dog or cat regardless of where it is kept. |
10 | "Companion animal" does not include livestock or any wild animal. |
11 | (b) The council shall consist of eleven (11) members as follows: |
12 | (1) The Rhode Island state veterinarian, or designee; |
13 | (2) A family court magistrate, to be appointed by the governor; |
14 | (3) An animal control officer employed by a municipality within the state, to be appointed |
15 | by the governor; |
16 | (4) A Rhode Island licensed veterinarian, to be appointed by the governor; |
17 | (5) A representative from the Potter League for Animals, to be appointed by the league's |
18 | governing body; |
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2 | (6) A representative from the Providence Animal Rescue League, to be appointed by the |
3 | league's governing body; |
4 | (7) A representative from the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to |
5 | Animals, to be appointed by the society's governing body; |
6 | (8) A representative from the Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association, to be |
7 | appointed by the association's governing body; |
8 | (9) A representative from the RIVMA Companion Animal Foundation, to be appointed by |
9 | the foundation's governing body; |
10 | (10) A representative from the Rhode Island Kennel Club, to be appointed by the club's |
11 | local governing body; and |
12 | (11) A representative from PawsWatch, to be appointed by the organization's governing |
13 | body. |
14 | (c) The membership of the council shall receive no compensation for their services. |
15 | (d) Commencing on December 1, 2020, and in the month of December of each year |
16 | thereafter, the council shall submit a written report to the governor and to the general assembly |
17 | detailing its activities in that year and providing recommendations on matters relating to companion |
18 | animal welfare, treatment and abuse, and on how best to promote and enhance the health and safety |
19 | of companion animals in the state. |
20 | (e) The Rhode Island state veterinarian or designee shall serve on the council so long as |
21 | he/she holds that position. The family court magistrate shall serve on the council for a term of five |
22 | (5) years and may be reappointed by the governor. The remaining members shall be appointed to |
23 | the council for terms of four (4) years, except that the initial terms of those members shall be as |
24 | follows: five (5) members appointed pursuant to §§ 4-1-44(b)(3) through (b)(7) shall serve an initial |
25 | term of three (3) years; and four (4) members appointed pursuant to §§ 4-1-44(b)(8) through (b)(11) |
26 | shall serve initial terms of two (2) years. Any member may be reappointed. Any vacancy in the |
27 | office of a member shall be filled in the same manner as provided for the original appointment, and |
28 | any such appointment shall be for the balance of the then current term of that office. |
29 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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LC004530 | |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- THE ANIMAL WELFARE | |
ADVISORY COUNCIL | |
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1 | This act would establish an animal welfare advisory council to advise the governor and the |
2 | general assembly on matters relating to animal welfare, treatment, health, and safety of companion |
3 | animals. |
4 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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