2025 -- S 0559 SUBSTITUTE A | |
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LC001233/SUB A | |
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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 -- CRUELTY TO ANIMALS | |
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Introduced By: Senators Dimitri, Appollonio, Tikoian, Bissaillon, Patalano, Ciccone, | |
Date Introduced: February 26, 2025 | |
Referred To: Senate Judiciary | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Section 4-1-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 4-1 entitled "Cruelty to |
2 | Animals" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
3 | 4-1-9. Animal fighting. |
4 | Any person who causes or encourages the fighting of any bird, dog, or animal with any |
5 | other bird, dog, or animal, or keeps or maintains any place for the fighting of birds, dogs, or animals, |
6 | or who knowingly permits, or suffers, any fight to be had on his or her premises or on premises |
7 | under his or her control, or makes any bet or lays any wager of any kind upon the result of that |
8 | fight, shall be fined not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) or be imprisoned not exceeding |
9 | two (2) years, or both, for the first offense, and for a second and any subsequent offense shall be |
10 | fined not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) or |
11 | be imprisoned not exceeding two (2) five (5) years, or both. In addition, every person convicted of |
12 | a first offense shall be required to perform twenty (20) hours of community service. Every person |
13 | convicted of a subsequent offense shall be required to perform fifty (50) hours of community |
14 | service. The community service penalty shall not be suspended or deferred. |
15 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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LC001233/SUB A | |
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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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1 | This act would increase the imprisonment penalty for animal fighting from two (2) to five |
2 | (5) years for a subsequent conviction under ยง 4-1-9 and would also require mandatory community |
3 | service. |
4 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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LC001233/SUB A | |
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