Bill > H5669

This bill amends Rhode Island's Domestic Violence Prevention Act to expand the definition of domestic violence to include three new animal cruelty offenses: unnecessary cruelty to an animal owned or cared for by a household member, malicious injury to or killing of an animal owned or cared for by a household member, and abandonment of an animal owned or cared for by a household member. By adding these specific animal-related crimes to the existing list of domestic violence offenses, the bill recognizes that harming an animal can be a form of domestic abuse and provides legal mechanisms to protect both animal and human victims. The bill draws from existing state laws defining animal cruelty (specifically sections 4-1-3, 4-1-5, and 4-1-26) and integrates them into the broader domestic violence statutes. This expansion acknowledges the potential connection between animal abuse and other forms of domestic violence, allowing law enforcement and courts to take these actions more seriously within the context of family or household relationships. The act will take effect immediately upon its passage.

Justice

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