2023 -- H 5703

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LC001371

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY – TRAVELING CIRCUSES

PROHIBITED

     

     Introduced By: Representative William W. O'Brien

     Date Introduced: February 17, 2023

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     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 28

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TRAVELING CIRCUSES PROHIBITED

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     4-28-1. Purpose.

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     The purpose of this chapter is to prohibit the operation of traveling circuses, shows and

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related activities in order to prevent the mistreatment of animals used in circuses.

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     4-28-2. Traveling circuses prohibited.

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     (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to conduct, sponsor, walk, exhibit, or operate a

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traveling show or circus that includes live wild or other exotic animals on any public or private

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land in the State of Rhode Island.

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     (b) This section shall not apply to domestic animals, including, but not limited to, dogs,

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cats, horses, donkeys, and farm animals.

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     (c) This section shall not apply to educational exhibits.

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     (d) Violations of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty dollars

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($50.00) and not more than five hundred dollars ($500) per animal, and imprisonment for not more

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than thirty (30) days. Each day that the violation continues shall constitute a separate violation.

 

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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 – TRAVELING CIRCUSES

PROHIBITED

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     This act would make it unlawful for any person to conduct, sponsor, walk, exhibit, or

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operate a traveling show or circus that includes live wild or other exotic animals on any public or

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private land in the State of Rhode Island. Violations would be punished by a fine from fifty dollars

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($50.00) up to five hundred dollars ($500) per animal and up to thirty (30) days imprisonment for

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each day in violation.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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