reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
RI Gen L § 4-1.1-5.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 4 - Animals and Animal Husbandry|Chapter 4-1.1 - Unlawful Confinement of a Covered Animal|Section 4-1.1-5.1 - Penalty. [Effective July 1, 2026.]

§ 4-1.1-5. Penalty. [Effective July 1, 2026.]   (a) The provisions of this chapter are in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other laws protecting animal welfare. This chapter may not be construed to limit any other state laws or rules protecting the welfare of animals or to prevent a local governing body from adopting and enforcing its own animal welfare laws and regulations.  (b) It is not an affirmative defense to alleged violations of this chapter that the covered animal was kept as part of an agricultural operation and in accordance with customary animal husbandry or farming practices.  (c) Any person who violates the provisions of this chapter or any rules or regulations promulgated hereunder shall be fined not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor exceeding five hundred dollars ($500), or both.  (d) This chapter shall be construed to supersede § 4-1-3(a) only with respect to the minimum space required for the housing of egg-laying hens.    History of Section. (P.L. 2012, ch. 275, § 1; P.L. 2012, ch. 285, § 1; P.L. 2018, ch. 348, § 1.)
RI Gen L § 4-1.1-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 4 - Animals and Animal Husbandry|Chapter 4-1.1 - Unlawful Confinement of a Covered Animal|Section 4-1.1-6 - Severability.

§ 4-1.1-6. Severability.If any provision of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstances, is held invalid or unconstitutional, that invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect other provisions or applications of this chapter that can be given effect without the invalid or unconstitutional provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this chapter are declared to be severable.History of Section.P.L. 2012, ch. 275, § 1; P.L. 2012, ch. 285, § 1.
RI Gen L § 4-1.2-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 4 - Animals and Animal Husbandry|Chapter 4-1.2 - Seizure of Animals Being Cruelly Treated|Section 4-1.2-1 - Seizure of animals being cruelly treated.

§ 4-1.2-1. Seizure of animals being cruelly treated.(a) The RI state veterinarian, the general/special agent of the RI Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RISPCA), or any duly sworn and authorized state or municipal law enforcement officer may lawfully take charge and possession of any animal found abandoned or neglected or hazardously accumulated as defined in § 4-1-1, or in the opinion of that veterinarian, agent, or officer is aged, maimed, disabled, lame, sick, diseased, injured, unfit for the labor it is performing, or cruelly treated, and may thereupon proceed to provide all necessary care and treatment required or take other appropriate action as determined by a licensed veterinarian.(b) Any person authorized to seize an animal pursuant to this section must leave written notice on the property where the animal was seized within twenty-four (24) hours of the seizure. This notice must be left in a location where it is reasonably likely to be found and must include the name, address, telephone number, and signature of the person seizing the animal; the reason for seizing the animal; and the location where the seized animal is being kept pending any order pursuant to § 4-1.2-3. If the address of the animal owner is known, notification through certified mail with return receipt requested shall also be provided.History of Section.P.L. 2019, ch. 180, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 242, § 1.
RI Gen L § 4-1.2-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 4 - Animals and Animal Husbandry|Chapter 4-1.2 - Seizure of Animals Being Cruelly Treated|Section 4-1.2-2 - Notice of hearing.

§ 4-1.2-2. Notice of hearing.Any authorized person making a seizure may file with a district court that has jurisdiction over the matter a verified petition plainly stating those facts as to bring such animal within the jurisdiction of the court and praying for appropriate action by the court in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Upon the filing of the petition, the court shall cause a summons to be issued requiring the owner(s) or person(s) having responsibility for the care of the animal, if known, to appear in court at the time and place named, which summons shall be served not less than fourteen (14) days before the date of the hearing. If the owner(s) or person(s) having responsibility for the care of the animal is not known, notice of the time and place of the hearing shall be given by publication in a newspaper having a circulation in the town in which the officer took charge of the animal not less than fourteen (14) days before the date of the hearing. The court shall further give notice to the petitioner of the time and place of the hearing not less than fourteen (14) days before the date of the hearing.History of Section.P.L. 2019, ch. 180, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 242, § 1.
RI Gen L § 4-1.2-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 4 - Animals and Animal Husbandry|Chapter 4-1.2 - Seizure of Animals Being Cruelly Treated|Section 4-1.2-3 - Order for temporary care of seized animals.

§ 4-1.2-3. Order for temporary care of seized animals.(a) If it appears from the allegations of the petition and other affirmations of fact accompanying the petition, or provided subsequent thereto, that there is reasonable cause to find that the animal's condition or the circumstances surrounding its care require that its custody be immediately assumed to safeguard its welfare, the court shall either:(1) Issue an order to the owner(s) or person(s) having responsibility for the care of the animal to show cause at such time as the court may designate why the court shall not vest in some suitable state, municipal, or other public or private agency or person the animal's temporary care and custody pending a hearing on the petition; or(2) Issue an order vesting in some suitable state, municipal, or other public or private agency or person, the animal's temporary care and custody, pending a hearing on the petition, which hearing shall be held within ten (10) days from the issuance of the order on the need for such temporary care and custody. The service of the orders may be made by any officer authorized by law to serve process, state police officer, indifferent person, or by certified mail with return receipt requested if the individual lives out of state.History of Section.P.L. 2019, ch. 180, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 242, § 1.
RI Gen L § 4-1.2-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 4 - Animals and Animal Husbandry|Chapter 4-1.2 - Seizure of Animals Being Cruelly Treated|Section 4-1.2-4 - Posting of bond.

§ 4-1.2-4. Posting of bond.(a) If the court issues an order pursuant to § 4-1.2-3 vesting the animal's temporary care and custody in some suitable state, municipal, or other public or private agency or person, the owner(s) shall either surrender ownership of the animal or post a surety bond or cash bond with the agency or person in whom the animal's temporary care and custody was vested. The surety bond or cash bond shall be in an amount sufficient to pay the reasonable expenses related to necessary veterinary care, shelter, feeding, and board that is reasonably anticipated to be incurred by the agency or person having temporary care and custody of the animal during the litigation of the process referenced in § 4-1.2-1.(b) The surety bond or cash bond shall cover the expenses for a period as decided by the court with subsequent bonds being necessary upon the expiration of the preceding bond until the animal is transferred, returned, or otherwise treated pursuant to § 4-1.2-5. Failure to post the original or subsequent bonds will result in forfeiture of the seized animals, with disposition as provided for pursuant to § 4-1.2-5.History of Section.P.L. 2019, ch. 180, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 242, § 1.
RI Gen L § 4-1.2-5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 4 - Animals and Animal Husbandry|Chapter 4-1.2 - Seizure of Animals Being Cruelly Treated|Section 4-1.2-5 - Disposition of seized animals.

§ 4-1.2-5. Disposition of seized animals.(a) If a seized animal is forfeited or surrendered pursuant to § 4-1.2-4, or after hearing the court finds that the animal is neglected or cruelly treated, it may transfer ownership of the animal in any state, municipal, or other public or private agency that is permitted by law to care for neglected or cruelly treated animals or with any person found to be suitable or worthy of the responsibility by the court.(b) If, after hearing, the court finds that the animal is so injured or diseased, the court may order the animal into the care of a licensed veterinarian to provide the animal with appropriate treatment.(c) If, after hearing, the court finds that the animal is not neglected or cruelly treated, it may cause the animal to be returned to its owner(s) or person(s) having responsibility for its care or, if the owner(s) or person(s) is unknown or unwilling to resume caring for the animal, it may transfer ownership of the animal in any state, municipal, or other public or private agency or person found to be suitable or worthy of the responsibility.(d) If the court renders a final decision under subsection (a) or (b) of this section, the agency or person with whom the bond was posted shall return the balance, if any, of the bond to the owner(s). The amount of the bond to be returned to the owner(s) shall be calculated by dividing the amount of the bond by thirty (30) to establish the daily rate and subtracting the number of days less than thirty (30) that the agency or person has not had temporary care and custody of the animal.(e) If the court makes a finding pursuant to subsection (c) of this section after the issuance of an order of temporary care and custody pursuant to § 4-1.2-3 and the owner(s) of the animal has posted a bond pursuant to § 4-1.2-4(b), the agency or person with whom the bond was posted shall return all the bond(s) to the owner(s).(f) Unless the court finds that there was no probable cause to institute a complaint that the animal is not neglected or cruelly treated, the expense incurred by the state or a municipality in providing proper food, shelter, and care to an animal it has seized pursuant to this chapter and the expense incurred by any state, municipal, or other public or private agency or person in providing temporary care and custody to an animal pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be determined by calculating the average costs from three (3) providers of the necessary equivalent services related to the veterinary care, sheltering, feeding, and board in the state, which was provided to the animal.History of Section.P.L. 2019, ch. 180, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 242, § 1.
RI Gen L § 4-2-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 4 - Animals and Animal Husbandry|Chapter 4-2 - Commercial Feeds|Section 4-2-1 - Title.

§ 4-2-1. Title.This chapter shall be known as the "Rhode Island Commercial Feed Law of 1977".History of Section.P.L. 1977, ch. 170, § 2.
RI Gen L § 4-2-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 4 - Animals and Animal Husbandry|Chapter 4-2 - Commercial Feeds|Section 4-2-2 - Enforcing official.

§ 4-2-2. Enforcing official.This chapter shall be administered by the director of the department of environmental management of the state or his or her authorized agent, referred to as the director.History of Section.P.L. 1977, ch. 170, § 2.
RI Gen L § 4-2-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 4 - Animals and Animal Husbandry|Chapter 4-2 - Commercial Feeds|Section 4-2-4 - Registration.

§ 4-2-4. Registration.(a) No person shall manufacture a commercial feed in this state, unless he or she has filed with the director on forms provided by the director, his or her name, place of business and location of each manufacturing facility in this state.(b) No person shall distribute in this state a commercial feed except a customer formula feed, which has not been registered pursuant to this section. The application for registration, accompanied by a sixty dollar ($60.00) per brand registration fee, shall be submitted in the manner prescribed by the director, on forms furnished by the director. A tag, label, or facsimile for each brand to be registered must accompany the application. Upon approval by the director, the registration shall be issued to the applicant. All registrations expire on the 31st day of December of each year.(c) The director is empowered to refuse registration of any commercial feed not in compliance with this chapter and to cancel any registration subsequently found not to be in compliance with any provisions of this chapter provided, that no registration shall be refused or canceled unless the registrant has been given an opportunity to be heard before the director and to amend his or her application in order to comply with the requirements of this chapter.(d) Changes of either chemical or ingredient composition of a registered commercial feed may be permitted with no new registration required provided there is satisfactory evidence that those changes would not result in a lowering of the guaranteed analysis of the product for the purpose for which designed, and provided a new label is submitted to the director notifying the director of the change.(e) All moneys received by the director under this chapter shall be deposited as general revenues and shall consist of all fertilizer registration and tonnage fees paid pursuant to §§ 2-7-4 and 2-7-6 and fees paid pursuant to § 4-2-4.(f) All moneys appropriated for the feed and fertilizer quality testing program shall be made available for the following purposes:(1) To support the feed and fertilizer testing laboratory for the testing and analysis of commercial feeds distributed within this state for the expressed purpose of detection of deficiency.(2) For payment of ancillary services, personnel and equipment incurred in order to carry out the purposes of quality assurance defined by this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 1977, ch. 170, § 2; P.L. 1989, ch. 349, § 2; P.L. 1992, ch. 133, art. 22, § 2; P.L. 1995, ch. 370, art. 40, § 3; P.L. 2004, ch. 595, art. 33, § 2.
RI Gen L § 4-2-5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 4 - Animals and Animal Husbandry|Chapter 4-2 - Commercial Feeds|Section 4-2-5 - Labeling.

§ 4-2-5. Labeling.A commercial feed shall be labeled as follows:(a) In the case of a commercial feed, except a customer formula feed, it shall be accompanied by a label bearing the following information:(1) The net weight.(2) The product name and the brand name, if any, under which the commercial feed is distributed.(3) The guaranteed analysis stated in any terms that the director by regulation requires to advise the user of the composition of the feed or to support claims made in the labeling. In all cases, the substances or elements must be determinable by laboratory methods such as the method published by the association of official analytical chemists (AOAC).(4) The common or usual name of each ingredient used in the manufacture of the commercial feed. The director by regulation may permit the use of a collective term for a group of ingredients which perform a similar function, or he or she may exempt any commercial feeds, or any group of commercial feeds, from the requirement of an ingredient statement if he or she finds that this statement is not required in the interest of consumers.(5) The name and principal mailing address of the manufacturer or the person responsible for distributing the commercial feed.(6) Adequate directions for use for all commercial feeds containing drugs and for any other feeds as the director may require by regulation as necessary for their safe and effective use.(7) Any precautionary statement that the director by regulation determines is necessary for the safe and effective use of the commercial feed.(b) In the case of a customer formula feed, it shall be accompanied by a label, invoice, delivery slip, or other shipping document, bearing the following information:(1) Name and address of the manufacturer.(2) Name and address of the purchaser.(3) Date of delivery.(4) The product name and brand name, if any, and the net weight of each registered commercial feed used in the mixture, and the net weight of each other ingredient used.(5) Adequate directions for use for all customer formula feeds containing drugs and for any other feeds as the director may require by regulation as necessary for their safe and effective use.(6) Any precautionary statements that the director by regulation determines are necessary for the safe and effective use of the customer formula feed.History of Section.P.L. 1977, ch. 170, § 2.
RI Gen L § 4-2-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 4 - Animals and Animal Husbandry|Chapter 4-2 - Commercial Feeds|Section 4-2-6 - Misbranding.

§ 4-2-6. Misbranding.A commercial feed is deemed to be misbranded:(1) If its labeling is false or misleading in any particular.(2) If it is distributed under the name of another commercial feed.(3) If it is not labeled as required in § 4-2-5.(4) If it purports to be or is represented as a commercial feed, or it purports to contain or is represented as containing a commercial feed ingredient, unless that commercial feed or feed ingredient conforms to the definition, if any, prescribed by regulation by the director.(5) If any word, statement, or other information required by or under authority of this chapter to appear on the label or labeling is not prominently placed with the conspicuousness (as compared with other words, statements, designs, or devices in the labeling) and in the terms as to render it likely to be read and understood by the ordinary individual under customary conditions of purchase and use.History of Section.P.L. 1977, ch. 170, § 2.
RI Gen L § 4-2-8 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 4 - Animals and Animal Husbandry|Chapter 4-2 - Commercial Feeds|Section 4-2-8 - Prohibited acts.

§ 4-2-8. Prohibited acts.The following acts and the causing of these acts within the state are prohibited:(1) The manufacture or distribution of any commercial feed that is adulterated or misbranded.(2) The adulteration or misbranding of any commercial feed.(3) The distribution of agricultural commodities such as whole seed, hay, straw, stover, silage, cobs, husks, and hulls, which are adulterated within the meaning of § 4-2-7.(4) The removal or disposal of a commercial feed in violation of an order under § 4-2-11.(5) The failure or refusal to register in accordance with § 4-2-4.(6) Failure to file any report required by this chapter or the regulations promulgated under this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 1977, ch. 170, § 2.
RI Gen L § 4-2-9 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 4 - Animals and Animal Husbandry|Chapter 4-2 - Commercial Feeds|Section 4-2-9 - Rules and regulations.

§ 4-2-9. Rules and regulations.(a) The director is authorized to make appropriate regulations requiring the maintenance of records, as may be deemed necessary, setting forth the number of net tons of commercial feed distributed in the state. The director has the right to examine any records to verify statements of tonnage.(b) The director is authorized to promulgate any rules and regulations for commercial feeds and pet foods that are specifically authorized in this chapter and any other reasonable rules and regulations necessary for the efficient enforcement of this chapter. In the interest of uniformity the director shall by regulation adopt, unless he or she determines that they are inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter or are not appropriate to conditions which exist in this state, the following:(1) The official definitions of feed ingredients and official feed terms adopted by the association of American feed control officials and published in the official publication of that organization; and(2) Any regulations promulgated pursuant to the authority of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. § 301 et seq.); provided, that the director would have the authority under this chapter to promulgate those regulations.(c) Before the issuance, amendment, or repeal of any rule or regulation authorized by this chapter, the director shall publish the proposed regulation, amendment, or notice to repeal an existing regulation in a manner reasonably calculated to give interested parties, including all current registrants, adequate notice and shall afford all interested persons an opportunity to present their views, orally or in writing, within a reasonable period of time. After consideration of all views presented by interested persons, the director shall take appropriate action to issue the proposed rule or regulation or to amend or to repeal an existing rule or regulation. The provisions of this subsection notwithstanding, if the director, pursuant to the authority of this chapter, adopts the official definition of feed ingredients or official feed terms as adopted by the association of American feed control officials, or regulations promulgated pursuant to the authority of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. § 301 et seq.), any amendment or modification adopted by the association of American feed control officials or by the secretary of human services in the case of regulations promulgated pursuant to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. § 301 et seq.), shall be adopted automatically under this chapter without regard to the publication of the notice required by this subsection unless the director, by order, specifically determines that the amendment or modification shall not be adopted.History of Section.P.L. 1977, ch. 170, § 2.
RI Gen L § 4-2-11 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 4 - Animals and Animal Husbandry|Chapter 4-2 - Commercial Feeds|Section 4-2-11 - Withdrawal, condemnation, and confiscation of commercial feeds.

§ 4-2-11. Withdrawal, condemnation, and confiscation of commercial feeds.(a) Withdrawal from distribution orders. When the director or the director's authorized agent has reasonable cause to believe any lot of commercial feed is being distributed in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or of any of the prescribed regulations under this chapter, he or she may issue and enforce a written or printed withdrawal from distribution order, warning the distributor not to dispose of the lot of commercial feed in any manner until written permission is given by the director or the court. The director shall release the lot of commercial feed so withdrawn when those provisions and regulations have been complied with. If compliance is not obtained within thirty (30) days, the director may begin, or upon request of the distributor or registrant shall begin, proceedings for condemnation.(b) Condemnation and confiscation. Any lot of commercial feed not in compliance with those provisions and regulations shall be subject to seizure on complaint of the director to a court of competent jurisdiction in the area in which the commercial feed is located. In the event the court finds the commercial feed is in violation of this chapter and orders the condemnation of that commercial feed, it shall be disposed of in any manner consistent with the quality of the commercial feed and the laws of the state. In no instance shall the disposition of the commercial feed be ordered by the court without first giving the claimant an opportunity to apply to the court for release of the commercial feed or for permission to process or relabel the commercial feed to bring it into compliance with this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 1977, ch. 170, § 2.
RI Gen L § 4-2-13 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 4 - Animals and Animal Husbandry|Chapter 4-2 - Commercial Feeds|Section 4-2-13 - Cooperation with other entities.

§ 4-2-13. Cooperation with other entities.The director may cooperate with and enter into agreements with governmental agencies of this state, other states, agencies of the federal government, and private associations in order to carry out the purpose and provisions of this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 1977, ch. 170, § 2.