Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

Rhode Island House Bill H5447 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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5	5	2025 -- H 5447
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7	7	LC000706
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9	9	S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
10	10	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
11	11	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
12	12	____________
13	13
14	14	A N A C T
15	15	RELATING TO COMMERCI AL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISION S --
16	16	TRADE IN FARMED ANIMAL FUR PRODUCTS
17	17	Introduced By: Representatives Serpa, Edwards, O'Brien, Baginski, Solomon, Kazarian,
18	18	and Lima
19	19	Date Introduced: February 12, 2025
20	20	Referred To: House Judiciary
21	21
22	22
23	23	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
24	24	SECTION 1. Legislative Findings. 1
25	25	The general assembly finds and declares that eliminating the sale of farmed fur products in 2
26	26	the State of Rhode Island will decrease demand for cruel products, reduce public health risks, 3
27	27	promote community awareness of animal welfare, alleviate environmental burdens, foster a more 4
28	28	humane environment, and enhance the reputation of the state. 5
29	29	SECTION 2. Title 6 of the General Laws entitled "COMMERCIAL LAW — GENERAL 6
30	30	REGULATORY PROVISIONS" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 7
31	31	CHAPTER 61 8
32	32	TRADE IN FARMED ANIMAL FUR PRODUCTS ACT 9
33	33	6-61-1. Short title. 10
34	34	This chapter shall be known and may be cited as "The Trade In Farmed Animal Fur 11
35	35	Products Act". 12
36	36	6-61-2. Definitions. 13
37	37	As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings: 14
38	38	(1) “Fur” means any animal skin or part thereof with hair, fleece, or fur fibers attached 15
39	39	thereto, either in its raw or processed state. 16
40	40	(2) “Fur farm” means any operation, including the land, buildings, support facilities, and 17
41	41	any other location or equipment, in which animals including, but not limited to, mink, fox, raccoon 18
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45	45	dog or chinchilla are owned, controlled, raised, bred, propagated, or kept for the value of their fur. 1
46	46	(3)(i) “Fur product” means any article of clothing or covering for any part of the body, or 2
47	47	any fashion accessory including, but not limited to, handbags, shoes, slippers, hats, earmuffs, 3
48	48	scarves, shawls, gloves, jewelry, keychains, toys or trinkets, and home accessories and décor, that 4
49	49	is made, in whole or in part, of fur. 5
50	50	(ii) “Fur product” does not include any of the following: 6
51	51	(A) An animal skin or part thereof that is to be converted into leather, or which in 7
52	52	processing will have the hair, fleece, or fur fiber completely removed; 8
53	53	(B) Animal hair, fleece, or fur fibers that are not attached to skin (e.g., fishing lures); or 9
54	54	(C) Fur, wool, or other fibers sourced exclusively from any member of the family Bovidae, 10
55	55	Camelidae, Equidae, Suidae, or Cervidae; 11
56	56	(4) “Person” means any individual, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, limited 12
57	57	liability company, corporation, estate, trust, receiver, or syndicate. 13
58	58	(5) “Ultimate consumer” means an individual who buys a fur product for their own use, or 14
59	59	for the use of another, but not for resale or trade. 15
60	60	(6) “Used fur product” means a fur product that has been worn or used by an ultimate 16
61	61	consumer. 17
62	62	6-61-3. Prohibitions. 18
63	63	Notwithstanding any other provision of law, it is unlawful for any person to sell, offer for 19
64	64	sale, display for sale, trade, or otherwise distribute for monetary or nonmonetary consideration, a 20
65	65	fur product in the State of Rhode Island if any of the fur contained in the fur product was sourced 21
66	66	from an animal that was raised, maintained, kept, or housed for all or part of its life on a fur farm. 22
67	67	For purposes of this section, the sale of a fur product shall be deemed to occur in the State of Rhode 23
68	68	Island if: 24
69	69	(1) The buyer takes physical possession of the fur product in Rhode Island; or 25
70	70	(2) The seller is located in Rhode Island. 26
71	71	6-61-4. Exemptions. 27
72	72	The prohibitions set forth in § 6-61-3 shall not apply to the sale, offer for sale, display for 28
73	73	sale, trade, or distribution of: 29
74	74	(1) A used fur product; or 30
75	75	(2) A fur product where the activity is expressly authorized by federal law. 31
76	76	6-61-5. Civil Penalty. 32
77	77	(a) A violation of this chapter shall be a civil infraction. Any person who violates this 33
78	78	chapter shall be subject to the following penalties: 34
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82	82	(1) For a first violation, a civil penalty of up to five hundred dollars ($500); 1
83	83	(2) For a second violation that occurred within one year of a previous civil infraction, a 2
84	84	civil penalty of up to seven hundred fifty dollars ($750). 3
85	85	(3) For a third violation that occurred within one year of a second civil infraction, a civil 4
86	86	penalty of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000). 5
87	87	(b) Each fur product that constitutes a violation of this chapter shall be treated as a separate 6
88	88	violation in any civil action brought pursuant to this chapter. 7
89	89	6-61-6. Enforcement. 8
90	90	(a) The attorney general shall enforce the provisions of this chapter. The attorney general 9
91	91	may also seek injunctive relief to prevent further violations of this chapter. 10
92	92	(b) Within six (6) months of the effective date of this chapter, the attorney general shall 11
93	93	promulgate rules and regulations for the implementation and enforcement of this chapter. 12
94	94	(3) Any municipality may, by ordinance, enforce the provisions of § 6-61-5. 13
95	95	(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, there shall be a rebuttable presumption 14
96	96	that a fur product contains fur that was sourced from an animal raised, maintained, kept, or housed 15
97	97	for all or part of its life on a fur farm. 16
98	98	6-61-7 Severability. 17
99	99	If any provision of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is 18
100	100	held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision or application which can be given 19
101	101	effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this chapter are 20
102	102	declared to be severable. 21
103	103	SECTION 3. This act shall take effect three (3) years after passage. 22
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110	110	EXPLANATION
111	111	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
112	112	OF
113	113	A N A C T
114	114	RELATING TO COMMERCI AL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS --
115	115	TRADE IN FARMED ANIMAL FUR PRODUCTS
116	116	***
117	117	This act would prohibit a person to sell, offer for sale, display for sale or otherwise 1
118	118	distribute a farmed animal fur product within the state and would provide graduated civil penalties 2
119	119	for violations. 3
120	120	This act would take effect three (3) years after passage. 4
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