Chapter 026
2022 -- H 7785
Enacted 05/24/2022

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

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.
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LC005252
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