2018 Legislative Session Overview - Rhode Island

BILL #

SUMMARY

FINAL DISPOSITION

HB 7025

Amends Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry) of Rhode Island General Laws by adding a new Chapter 1.2 to create the "Animal Abuser Registry Act".

DIED IN COMMITTEE

HB 7151

Amends Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry), Chapter 4-11 (Psittacine Birds), Sections 4 (Banding of birds imported, sold, or given) and 5 (Banding of breeding stock) of RI General Laws to remove the requirement of using metal seamless bands to allow flexibility in using modern, safer methods of identifying and tracking psittacine birds within the state.

DIED IN COMMITTEE

HB 7278

Amends Title 44 (Taxation), Chapter 44-18 (Sales and Use Taxes – Liability and Computation), Section 7.3 (Services defined) of RI General Laws to repeal the sales tax on pet care services.

DIED IN COMMITTEE

HB 7409

Amends Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry), Chapter 4-19 (Animal Care), Section 2 (Definitions) of Rhode Island General Laws to amend the definition of a kennel to include a "residence" as a location that may not be considered a kennel and would specify how many animals are permitted therein.

ENACTED

HB 7420

Amends Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry), Chapter 4-19 (Animal Care), Section 7 (Dealer Licenses) of Rhode Island General Laws by adding a new Subsection 7.1 (Renting or leasing of dogs and cats prohibited) to prohibit the rental, lease, or financing of any sale of a dog or cat by any person or business.

DIED ON SENATE CALENDAR

HB 7477

Amends Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry), Chapter 4-19 (Animal Care) of Rhode Island General Laws by adding a new Section 4-19-4.1 (Sale by pet shops) which would prohibit pet shops from offering for sale cats or dogs that are not obtained from an animal shelter, dog pound or animal rescue.

DIED IN COMMITTEE

HB 7609

Amends Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry), Chapter 4-19 (Animal Care), Sections 1 (Purpose), 2 (Definitions) and 8 (Denial of Certificates of Registration or Licenses) of Rhode Island General Laws to establish registration of pet groomers and pet grooming facilities.

DIED IN COMMITTEE

HB 7612

Amends Title 23 (Health & Safety), Chapter 23-20.10 (Public Health and Workplace Safety Act) to Rhode Island General Laws to prohibit misrepresentation of the status of a pet dog as a service dog to acquire any right or privilege afforded disabled persons.

DIED ON SENATE CALENDAR

HB 7641

Amends Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry), Chapter 4-13 (Dogs) of Rhode Island General Laws by adding a new section prohibiting the sale of dogs under 8 weeks of age without approval in writing from a licensed Rhode Island veterinarian.

ENACTED

SB 2394

Amends Title 44 (Taxation), Chapter 44-18 (Sales and Use Taxes – Liability and Computation), Section 7.3 (Services defined) of RI General Laws to repeal the sales tax on pet care services.

DIED IN COMMITTEE

SB 2432

Amends Title 23 (Health & Safety), Chapter 23-20.10 (Public Health and Workplace Safety Act) to Rhode Island General Laws to prohibit misrepresentation of the status of a pet dog as a service dog to acquire any right or privilege afforded disabled persons.

DIED IN COMMITTEE

SB 2510

Amends Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry), Chapter 4-19 (Animal Care), Section 2 (Definitions) of Rhode Island General Laws to amend the definition of a kennel to include a "residence" as a location that may not be considered a kennel and would specify how many animals are permitted therein.

ENACTED

SB 2605

Amends Chapter 4-1 (Cruelty to Animals) of Rhode Island General Laws by adding a new Section 4-1-37.1 (Reports of abandoned, neglected or abused animals) to require all persons or entities caring for or having custody of an animal to report animal abuse, cruel neglect or abandonment to the police.

DIED IN COMMITTEE

SB 2777

Amends Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry), Chapter 4-13 (Dogs) of Rhode Island General Laws by adding a new section prohibiting the sale of dogs under 8 weeks of age without approval in writing from a licensed Rhode Island veterinarian.

ENACTED

SB 2780

Amends Title 4 (Animals & Animal Husbandry), Chapter 4-19 (Animal Care) of Rhode Island General Laws by adding a new Section 4-19-4.1 (Sale by pet shops) which would prohibit pet shops from offering for sale cats or dogs that are not obtained from an animal shelter, dog pound or animal rescue.

DIED IN COMMITTEE

REG 2017-002

Proposed rulemaking by the RI Department of Environmental Management to recodify existing permitting and regulations for the possession and distribution of ferrets.

ADOPTED

REG 2018-001

Proposed rulemaking to amend Chapter 40 (Agriculture & Resource Marketing), Subchapter 5 (Animal Health), Part 4 (Rules and Regulations Governing Animal Care Facilities) of RI Department of Environmental Management Regulations to establish the separate category of "breeders" to be included among the types of regulated animal care facilities (in response to the passage of SB 349 in 2017).

ADOPTED

REG 2018-002

Proposed rulemaking amends Title 250 (Dept. of Environmental Management), Chapter 40 (Agriculture & Resource Marketing), Subchapter 05 (Animal Health), Part 2 (Rules and Regulations Governing the Prevention, Control and Suppression of Rabies) of the RI Code of Regulations to: 1) reformat the regulation in accordance with the RICR; 2) update outdated portions of the regulation; 3) remove nonregulatory language; and 4) add incorporated materials by reference.

ADOPTED

ORD 2017002

Ordinance No. 15266 amends Chapter 4 (Animals & Fowl) of Providence, RI City Code by:  1) Adding Section 24 (Prohibition on the Sale of Dogs and Cats) to prohibit the retail sale of dogs and cats in the city; and 2) Amending Section 22 (Dog Breeding) to provide exemptions from existing mandatory spay-neuter provisions.

ADOPTED