An Act to Create the Animal Cruelty Task Force
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1216
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: HARRINGTON
Amends: 5 MRSA §12004-I, 7 MRSA §3906-D

Legislative Document
No. 1216
S.P. 497
In Senate, March 20, 2023
An Act to Create the Animal Cruelty Task Force
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator HARRINGTON of York.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§2-J is enacted to read:
2-J.   
Agriculture 
Animal Cruelty Task Force 
Not Authorized 
MRSA 
§3906-D 
Sec. 2.  7 MRSA §3906-D is enacted to read:
§3906-D.  Animal Cruelty Task Force
1.  Task force established.  The Animal Cruelty Task Force, established in Title 5, 
section 12004‑I, subsection 2‑J and referred to in this section as "the task force," shall 
provide a coalition of trained professionals to assist with and enhance the enforcement of 
animal cruelty laws, including the investigation of cases of animal cruelty.
2.  Membership.  The commissioner shall appoint the members of the task force. 
Members must include at least the following:
A.  One member who is an animal control officer;
B.  One member who is a humane agent;
C.  One member representing a statewide association of chiefs of police;
D.  One member representing a statewide association of sheriffs;
E.  One member who is a district attorney;
F.  One member representing the judicial branch;
G.  One member representing the Maine Municipal Association;
H.  One member representing the Maine Fire Chiefs Association;
I.  One member who is a licensed clinical social worker as defined in Title 32, section 
7001-A, subsection 6;
J.  One member who is a veterinarian licensed to practice in the State;
K.  One member representing an animal shelter licensed in accordance with chapter 
723; and
L.  One member with experience responding to large-scale animal cruelty cases and 
natural disasters.
3.  Consultants; experts.  Whenever the task force considers it appropriate, the task 
force may seek the advice of consultants or experts on a case-by-case basis in fields related 
to its duties.
4.  Terms; vacancies.  A member is appointed for a term of 2 years and may be 
reappointed. In the case of a vacancy for any reason, the commissioner shall appoint a 
member representing the same interest to fill the unexpired term.
5.  Meetings; officers.  The task force shall organize initially and annually thereafter 
by electing a chair and a vice-chair from among its members. The vice-chair shall also 
serve as secretary. The task force shall meet at the call of the chair at least twice a year and 
may meet at such other times as may be reasonably necessary to carry out its duties.
6.  Staff.  The department shall provide necessary staffing services to the task force.
7.  Funding.  When a member of the task force who is an employee of a state agency, 
except for a member who is a humane agent, is assigned to investigate a case of animal 
cruelty under this section, that state agency is responsible for establishing the salary and 
benefits, including overtime, of that member, and the State shall reimburse that state agency 
monthly through the animal welfare auxiliary fund established under section 3906-B, 
subsection 16.  The task force is also authorized to accept donations made to the 
investigation of an animal cruelty case.
8.  Powers and duties.  The task force has the following powers and duties.
A.  At the request of a municipality, the task force may provide guidance and support 
for animal cruelty cases that involve a large number of animals, involve safety concerns 
or are complex in nature.
B.  The task force shall identify ways to assist municipalities with the identification 
and handling of animal cruelty cases.
C.  The task force shall identify ways to assist with the prosecution of animal cruelty 
cases, including the prompt holding of a full hearing regarding the possession of the 
animal in accordance with Title 17, section 1021, subsection 3 and seeking petitions 
for the posting of a security in accordance with Title 17, section 1027.
D.  The task force shall recommend measures to streamline reporting of animal cruelty 
to local law enforcement agencies for immediate documentation and assessment.
E.  The task force shall identify and pursue collaborations among law enforcement 
agencies, the criminal justice system, animal welfare organizations, behavioral health 
liaisons, community resources and others to aid in the prevention and addressing of 
animal cruelty.
F.  A law enforcement agent serving on the task force may be deputized and may serve 
a municipality if there is no acting agent for the municipality in the jurisdiction of an 
animal cruelty case or in the event the animal control officer for the municipality does 
not have the authority to issue a criminal summons.
G.  The task force shall review the handling of prior large-scale animal cruelty cases to 
identify and recommend ways to improve investigation and enforcement.
9.  Media policy.  Members of the task force are not authorized to release to the public 
or a media outlet any information on an animal cruelty case.  Requests for information from 
a media outlet or the public must be referred to the public information officer of the 
appropriate law enforcement agency.  For purposes of this subsection, "media outlet" 
includes broadcast media, print media and Internet-based media.
Sec. 3. Animal Cruelty Task Force first meeting.  The Commissioner of 
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry shall call the first meeting of the Animal Cruelty 
Task Force, established under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 7, section 3906-D, no later 
than December 31, 2023.
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the Animal Cruelty Task Force to provide a coalition of trained 
professionals to assist with and enhance the enforcement of animal cruelty laws.