2013 -- S 0177

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LC00571

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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A N A C T

RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

     Introduced By: Senators Ruggerio, Sosnowski, Lombardi, Miller, and Satchell

     Date Introduced: February 06, 2013

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 4-1 of the General Laws entitled "Cruelty to Animals" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     4-1-41. Devocalization or declawing as requirement for property occupancy

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prohibited. -- (a) No person or corporation that occupies, owns, manages, or provides services in

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connection with any real property, including the individual’s or corporation's agents or

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successors-in-interest, may do any of the following if the person or corporation allows an animal

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on the subject premises:

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     (1) Advertise, through any means, the availability of real property for occupancy in a

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manner designed to discourage application for occupancy of that real property because the

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applicant's animal has not been declawed or devocalized;

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     (2) Refuse to allow the occupancy of any real property, refuse to negotiate the occupancy

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of any real estate property, or to otherwise make unavailable or deny to any other person the

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occupancy of any real property because of that person's refusal to declaw or devocalize any

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animal; or

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     (3) Require any tenant or occupant of real property to declaw or devocalize any animal

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allowed on the premises.

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     (b) Any person found in violation of this section shall be fined not more than one

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thousand dollars ($1,000). In addition to any other penalty provided by law, a person fined under

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this section may be barred from owning or possessing any animals, or living on the same property

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with someone who owns or possesses animals, for a period of time deemed appropriate by the

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court, and be required to take humane education, pet ownership and dog training classes as

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ordered by the court.

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     (c) Nothing contained within this section shall be construed as forbidding a person or

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corporation that occupies, owns, manages, or provides services in connection with any real

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property, including the individual’s or corporation's agents or successors-in-interest, from

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prohibiting any animal on the premises.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC00571

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

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     This act would provide penalties for requiring the devocalization of dogs and cats as a

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condition of real estate occupancy.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC00571

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