To protect animal welfare and safety in cities and towns

What it means

Changes several animal welfare laws. Creates a crime of sexual contact with an animal (up to 7 years in state prison or a fine up to $5,000 for a first offense, up to 10 years or $10,000 after that), bans killing animals by drowning with the same penalties, and widens the business entities that can be charged under animal cruelty laws. Requires certain state social service and child welfare workers to report suspected animal cruelty to police within 2 working days, and requires landlords, owners and foreclosing parties to check vacated homes for abandoned animals within 3 days, with civil penalties of up to $500 and then $1,000. It also raises one dog-law fine from $250 to $500, sets fines under another dog-law section that rise from $50 for a first offense to $500 for a fourth or later offense, and bars home and renters insurers from refusing or pricing coverage based on a dog's breed unless the dog has been declared dangerous.

Source: official text and history of S.2332 on malegislature.gov. This describes the bill text posted there; amendments may have changed the version that was voted on.