2022 -- H 7785

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LC005252

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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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:

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

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in General" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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

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Veterinarians.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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of this chapter.

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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the threat of disease.

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

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

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

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

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performed by a licensed veterinarian qualified to perform the testing.

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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 -- ANIMAL DISEASES IN

GENERAL

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

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

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therein.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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