2025 -- H 5214

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LC000932

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- PSITTACINE BIRDS

     Introduced By: Representatives Cotter, Kazarian, McNamara, Kislak, Potter, Stewart,
Casimiro, and Serpa

     Date Introduced: January 29, 2025

     Referred To: House Corporations

     (by request)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 4-11 of the General Laws entitled "Psittacine Birds" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following section:

     4-11-14. Parrot sale restrictions.

     (a) As used in this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

     (1) "Agricultural use" means birds, such as chickens or guinea fowl, that are raised as

livestock for personal or commercial use. Parrots cannot be classified as birds for agricultural use.

     (2) "Animal care facility" means an animal control center or animal shelter, maintained by

or under contract with any state, county, or municipality, whose mission or practice is to protect

the welfare of animals and find placement for them in homes or animal rescue organizations.

     (3) "Animal rescue organization" means a nonprofit organization whose mission and

practice is the rescue and placement of mammals, birds, reptiles, or amphibians into permanent

homes. These organizations cannot obtain any animal from a breeder or broker for payment or

compensation.

     (4) "Broker" means a third party as defined in § 4-19-2.

     (5) "Parrots" means any of the numerous widely distributed tropical birds belonging to the

order Psittaciformes.

     (6) "Pet store" or "pet shop" means a retail establishment where animals are sold,

exchanged, bartered, or offered for sale to the general public. Such definition shall not include an

animal care facility or animal rescue organization as defined in this section. A person who sells or

otherwise transfers the offspring of animals they have bred on their residential premises shall not

be considered a "pet store" for purposes of this section.

     (b) Prohibition of the sale of parrots at pet stores.

     (1) It shall be unlawful for a pet store to sell or offer for sale a parrot from a breeder or

broker.

     (2) A pet store may offer for sale parrots that are obtained from animal care facilities or

animal rescue organizations.

     (3) The name of the animal care facility or rescue organization will be clearly displayed

next to enclosures when adoption events are held at pet stores.

     (4) Pet stores shall have a one year grace period to sell parrots already in their possession

on the effective date of this section.

     (c) Prohibition on sales in public places.

     (1) It shall be unlawful for any person to offer for sale, sell, exchange, or barter any parrots

on any roadside, park, other recreation area, outdoor market, or commercial or retail parking lot,

even if access is authorized by the property owner.

     (2) This section shall not apply to the following:

     (i) The display of birds as part of a state or county fair exhibition or for educational

programs. This exception does not apply to parrots and they cannot be displayed at fairs or used

for educational programs.

     (ii) A bird sold or displayed for agricultural uses. This exception does not apply to parrots

and they cannot be classified as birds for agricultural use.

     (d) Violation - Penalty.

     Any person who sells a parrot in violation of this section shall be subject to a civil fine of

one thousand dollars ($1,000). Each unlawful sale or offer for sale will constitute a separate

violation. If a pet store acquires more parrots during the one-year grace period from a broker or

breeder, a civil fine of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) will be issued for each violation.

Violations shall be investigated and prosecuted by the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of

Cruelty to Animals.

     (e) Implementation.

     An advisory committee consisting of representatives from Foster Parrots, Ltd and Rhode

Island Parrot Rescue shall assist pet stores as they work to comply with subsection (b) of this

section. The committee will remain in effect for eighteen (18) months after the effective date of

this section and will issue an implementation status report at the end of its term.

     (f) Severability.

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     The invalidity of any subsection or provision of this section shall not invalidate any other

subsection or provision and the application of those subsections or provisions shall not be affected

and shall remain in full force and effect.

     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 -- PSITTACINE BIRDS

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     This act would ban the sale of parrots at pet stores from a breeder or broker; provided,

however, that pet stores would be allowed to sell parrots obtained from animal care facilities or

animal rescue organizations. Sale of parrots would be prohibited at any outdoor markets or public

areas. Violators would be subject to a civil fine with enforcement by the Rhode Island society for

the prevention of cruelty to animals (RISPCA).

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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