Chapter 172
2018 -- H 7986
Enacted 07/02/2018

A N   A C T
RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

Introduced By: Representatives O'Brien, Almeida, Williams, McEntee, and Ucci
Date Introduced: March 22, 2018

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
     SECTION 1. Section 4-1-37 of the General Laws in Chapter 4-1 entitled "Cruelty to
Animals" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     4-1-37. Immunity from suit.
     Any person entrusted with the care and custody of an animal, including, but not limited
to, any Rhode Island licensed veterinarian, veterinarian technician, animal shelter, or animal
kennel, shall be held harmless from either criminal or civil liability arising out of any reports,
either oral or written, made to local and/or state police, animal control officials, or officers of
private organizations devoted to humane treatment of animals, concerning any animal that the
veterinarian knows, or reasonably believed, to be abandoned, neglected, or abused, and shall be
immune from suit by reason of making the report. Provided, however, that a veterinarian who
participates or reports in bad faith or with malice shall not be protected under the provisions of
this section chapter.
     SECTION 2. Chapter 4-1 of the General Laws entitled "Cruelty to Animals" is hereby
amended by adding thereto the following section:
     4-1-26.1. Reports of abandoned, neglected or abused animals.
     (a) Any Rhode Island licensed veterinarian, veterinarian technician, animal shelter,
animal kennel, or other person entrusted with the care or custody of an animal shall report to any
police department (local or state), animal control officials, or officers of private organizations
devoted to the humane treatment of animals, the condition of any animal that the parties entrusted
with care or custody of an animal knows, or reasonably believes, to be abandoned, as defined in §
4-1-26, neglected, or abused, and shall be immune from suit pursuant to the provisions of § 4-1-
37. Any party who fails to report pursuant to this section shall be fined not exceeding five
hundred dollars ($500).
     (b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to impose a duty to further investigate
observed or reasonably suspected animal abandonment, cruel neglect, or abuse.
     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC005214
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