2022 -- H 7785

========

LC005252

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- ANIMAL DISEASES IN

GENERAL

     Introduced By: Representative Brandon C. Potter

     Date Introduced: March 03, 2022

     Referred To: House Environment and Natural Resources

     (Dept. of Environmental Management)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 4-4-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 4-4 entitled "Animal Diseases

in General" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     4-4-1. Appointment of inspectors to inspect diseased animals -- Quarantine --

Veterinarians.

     (a) The director of environmental management may appoint one or more inspectors in the

state, whose duty it is to visit and inquire into the condition of any domestic animal in the state

whenever there is reason to suspect that any domestic animal, the carcass of any domestic animal

or tissues or products, is affected with tuberculosis, or other a contagious, infectious, zoonotic, or

communicable disease; and the inspectors are authorized to quarantine any diseased domestic

animal, the carcass of any diseased domestic animal, or restrict the movement of any tissues or

products produced by any domestic animal suspected of being affected with a contagious,

infectious, zoonotic, or communicable disease until such quarantine or movement restriction is

released by a veterinarian employed by the director. The director may also employ, from time to

time, any number of veterinary surgeons that he or she may find necessary to carry out the purposes

of this chapter.

     (b) The director of the department of environmental management may establish quarantine

or control zones consistent with state and United States Department of Agriculture emergency plans

to restrict the movement of animals, animal carcasses, animal tissues, and animal products

suspected of being affected with a contagious, infectious, zoonotic or communicable disease. Any

control or quarantine zone established under this authority will remain in effect until the chief of

agriculture and/or the state veterinarian determine that the zone is no longer necessary to mitigate

the threat of disease.

     (c) The director of the department of environmental management may order examination

or testing of any quarantined animal or animal in a quarantine or control zone for disease

surveillance purposes or as a term of the order of quarantine. The director may authorize qualified

department personnel to carry out any examination or testing or may order the testing to be

performed by a licensed veterinarian qualified to perform the testing.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC005252

========

LC005252 - Page 2 of 3

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- ANIMAL DISEASES IN

GENERAL

***

     This act would authorize the director of the department of environmental management to

establish quarantine zones for animals and would permit the examination of any quarantined animal

therein.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC005252

========

LC005252 - Page 3 of 3