Rhode Island SB 489: AN ACT RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- DONATION OF MEDICATIONS FOR USE BY NONPROFIT, STATE AND LOCAL FACILITIES (Establishes a process for the donation of unused medications for use by nonprofit, state and local facilities by owners of animals.)

Bill Text

2021 -- S 0489
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LC002041
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021
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A N A C T
RELATING TO ANIMALS AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY -- DONATION OF
MEDICATIONS FOR USE BY NONPROFIT, STATE AND LOCAL FACILITIES
Introduced By: Senators Coyne, Sosnowski, Archambault, and Lombardo
Date Introduced: March 04, 2021
Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Title 4 of the General Laws entitled "ANIMALS AND ANIMAL 1
HUSBANDRY" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 2
CHAPTER 9.1 3
DONATION OF MEDICATIONS FOR USE BY NONPROFIT, STATE AND LOCAL 4
FACILITIES 5
4-9.1-1. De finitions . 6
As used in this chapter: 7
(1) "Animal rescue" means an entity, without a physical brick-and-mortar facility, that is 8
owned, operated, or maintained by a duly incorporated humane society, animal welfare society, 9
society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or other nonprofit organization. 10
(2) "Animal shelter" means a brick-and-mortar facility that is used to house or contain 11
animals and that is owned, operated, or maintained by a duly incorporated humane society, anima l 12
welfare society, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, or other nonprofit organization 13
devoted to the welfare, protection, and humane treatment of animals. 14
(3) "Nonprofit corporation" means a corporation of which no part of the income or profit 15
is distributable to its members, directors, or officers, except as otherwise expressly permitted by 16
chapter 6 of title 7. 17
(4) "Pound" or "Dog pound" means a facility operated by the state, or any politic a l 18

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subdivision of the state, for the purpose of impounding or harboring seized, stray, homeless, 1
abandoned, or unwanted dogs, cats, and other animals, or a facility operated for that purpose under 2
contract with any municipal corporation or incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty to 3
animals. 4
(5) "Veterinarian-client patient relationship" or "VCPR" means a relationship where all of 5
the following conditions have been met: 6
(i) The veterinarian has assumed the responsibility for making medical judgments 7
regarding the health of the animal or animals and the need for medical treatment, and the client (i.e. 8
animal owner or custodian) has agreed to follow the instructions of the veterinarian. 9
(ii) The veterinarian has sufficient knowledge of the animal or animals to initiate at least a 10
general or preliminary (e.g. tentative) diagnosis of the medical condition of the animal or animals. 11
"Sufficient knowledge", as used in this subsection, means that the veterinarian has recently seen 12
and is personally acquainted with the keeping and care of the animal or animals, and/or by 13
medically appropriate and timely visits to the premises where the animal or animals are kept. 14
(iii) The veterinarian is readily available for follow-up in cases of adverse reactions or 15
failure of the regimen of therapy. 16
(iv) The veterinarian maintains records, which document patient visits, diagnosis , 17
treatment, and other relevant in formation. 18
(6) "Veterinary clinic" means any premises to which animals are brought or where they are 19
temporarily kept, solely for the purpose of diagnosis or treatment of any illness or injury 20
4-9.1-2. Allowable me dication donations . 21
(a) An owner of an animal may donate a drug that is dispensed for the animal, but will not 22
be used by that animal, to a licensed veterinarian or a facility in which veterinary medicine is 23
practiced if the licensed veterinarian or facility chooses to accept the drug. 24
(b) Except as provided in § 4-9.1-3, a licensed veterinarian may reissue a drug accepted 25
pursuant to this section to fill other prescriptions provided that: 26
(1) The veterinarian is licensed to practice veterinary medicine in Rhode Island; 27
(2) The drug is being dispensed to fill a prescription needed to treat an animal under the 28
care of a Rhode Island registered nonprofit shelter, municipal pound, shelter, veterinary clinic, or 29
animal rescue facility; 30
(3) Wildlife rehabilitators licensed by the state of Rhode Island will have access to these 31
medications under the direction of a licensed Rhode Island veterinarian; 32
(4) The prescription is authorized by the veterinarian within a valid VCPR; 33
(5) The licensed veterinarian determines that the drug is suitable for that purpose; and 34

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(6) The drug was originally dispensed by a licensed veterinarian, a facility in which 1
veterinary medicine is practiced which is licensed by the state of Rhode Island, a licensed 2
pharmacy, an Internet pharmacy that is accredited through the National Association of Boards of 3
Pharmacy's Veterinary-Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites program or its successor; 4
4-9.1-3. Drugs not e ligible for donation or re is s uance . 5
Drugs that will