| R 303 |
| 2018 -- S 2575 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 06/12/2018 |
| S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N |
| CREATING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO STUDY POTENTIAL REFORM OF VICIOUS DOGS HEARINGS |
| Introduced By: Senators Euer, Seveney, Lynch Prata, Archambault, and Lombardi |
| Date Introduced: March 01, 2018 |
| WHEREAS, Chapter 13.1 of Title 4 of the General Laws governs the regulation of |
| vicious dogs, including the hearings that determine a dog’s status as vicious; and |
| WHEREAS, There continues to be debate among stakeholders including the Rhode |
| Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RISPCA) regarding the form and |
| procedure of said hearings; and |
| WHEREAS, Input from stakeholders representing the animal welfare community and |
| city solicitors offices who participate in said hearings is vital to the meaningful reform of this |
| process; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created |
| consisting of eight (8) members: two (2) of whom shall be members of the Senate, to be |
| appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom shall be the President of the RISPCA, or |
| designee; one of whom shall be a certified animal behaviorist, to be appointed by the President of |
| the Senate; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Police Chiefs |
| Association, or designee; one of whom shall be an Animal Control Officer, to be appointed by the |
| President of the Senate; one of whom shall be the Rhode Island State Veterinarian, or designee; |
| and one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Potter League for Animals, or designee. |
| In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory |
| commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly |
| resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu |
| of a legislator. |
| The purpose of said commission shall be to conduct a comprehensive review and make |
| recommendations regarding the regulation of vicious dogs and any administrative hearings |
| pertaining to them. |
| Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at |
| the call of the President of the Senate and organize. The President of the Senate shall select one |
| member to serve as chairperson of the commission. |
| Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment. |
| The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services. |
| All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information, |
| documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or |
| desirable by the commission to facilitate the purpose of this resolution. |
| The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide |
| suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the |
| Senate on or before March 1, 2019, and said commission shall expire on July 1, 2019. |
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| LC004847/SUB A |
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