SB 53 — AN ACT REQUIRING VETERINARIANS TO REPORT CASES OF SUSPECTED AGGRAVATED ANIMAL CRUELTY AND AUTHORIZING THE REPORTING OF SUSPECTED ANIMAL CRUELTY.

General Assembly ProposedCommittee Bill No.

8652964 Referred to Committee on ENVIRONMENT Introduced by:

SEN.(ENV) AN ACT REQUIRING VETERINARIANS TO REPORT CASES OF SUSPECTED AGGRAVATED ANIMAL CRUELTY AND AUTHORIZING THE REPORTING OF SUSPECTED ANIMAL CRUELTY.

LOONEY, 11 Dist.

AN ACT REQUIRING VETERINARIANS TO REPORT CASES OF SUSPECTED AGGRAVATED ANIMAL CRUELTY AND AUTHORIZING THE REPORTING OF SUSPECTED ANIMAL CRUELTY.

ThatSection the1. general statutes be amended to require veterinarians acting in their professional capacity who have reasonable cause to believe that an animal is subject to aggravated cruelty to report such violation to the Commissioner of Agriculture and authorize any such veterinarian to report to the commissioner incidents of suspected cruelty or neglect of any such animal.

Furthermore,(NEW) to(Effective provideOctober any1, such2023) veterinarian(a) withExcept civilas andprovided criminalin immunitysubsection for(b) makingof this section, any suchveterinarian licensed pursuant to chapter 384 of the general statutes who, while acting in a professional capacity, has reasonable cause to suspect that an animal is the subject of cruelty or neglect in violation of section 53-247 of the general statutes may report the suspected violation to the commissioner.Commissioner of Agriculture or the commissioner's designee.

StatementAny veterinarian who makes a report pursuant to this subsection may appear and testify in a judicial or administrative proceeding concerning the condition or care of Purpose:the animal.

(b) Any veterinarian licensed pursuant to chapter 384 of the general statutes who, while acting in a professional capacity, has reasonable cause to suspect that an animal is the subject of a malicious and intentional maiming, mutilation, torturing, wounding or killing in violation of subsection (b) of section 53-247 of the general statutes shall LCO No.

2964 1 of 2 Committee Bill No.

53 report the suspected violation to the Commissioner of Agriculture or the commissioner's designee.

Any veterinarian who makes a report pursuant to this subsection may appear and testify in a judicial or administrative proceeding concerning the condition or care of the animal.

(c) Any veterinarian who reports or testifies pursuant to this section shall be immune from any criminal and civil liability and professional disciplinary action that may otherwise result from such actions.

Such immunity from liability for the release of confidential information shall apply only to the release of information to the Superior Court, the Department of Agriculture, any animal control officer, a state's attorney or a law enforcement agency involved in any applicable investigation.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:

Section 1 October 1, 2023 New section Statement of Purpose:

LCO[Proposed No.deletions are enclosed in brackets.

865Proposed 1additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of 1a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.] Co-Sponsors:

SEN.

LOONEY, 11th Dist.;

SEN.

ANWAR, 3rd Dist.

S.B.

53 LCO No.

2964 2 of 2