§ 4-13-1.3 - Rabies control board.
SECTION 4-13-1.3
§ 4-13-1.3 Rabies control board. –(a) There shall be a rabies control board consisting of seven (7) people asfollows:
(1) The director of the Rhode Island department ofenvironmental management or his or her designee;
(2) The director of the Rhode Island department of health orhis or her designee;
(3) A Rhode Island licensed veterinarian, appointed by thegovernor, who is a member of the Rhode Island veterinary medical association;
(4) A livestock farmer, appointed by the governor, who is amember of the Rhode Island farm bureau;
(5) A member of a recognized Rhode Island humane group (suchas the Rhode Island society for prevention of cruelty to animals), appointed bythe governor;
(6) The state veterinarian, who shall serve as chairperson;
(7) A member of the Rhode Island animal control association,appointed by the governor.
(b) All appointments made under this section after theeffective date of this act [April 20, 2006] shall be subject to theadvice and consent of the senate. The members of the board shall serve withoutcompensation. The board members from the departments of health andenvironmental management shall serve at the discretion of their directors. Thestate veterinarian shall serve without term. Nongovernmental members shallserve for a period of three (3) years and reappointments shall be made by thegovernor with the advice and consent of the senate.
(c) Vacancies for citizen members shall be filled byappointment, in the same manner as the original appointment, for the unexpiredterm only. Four (4) members of the board shall constitute a quorum.
(d) Members of the board shall be removable by the governorpursuant to § 36-1-7 of the general laws and for cause only, and removalsolely for partisan or personal reasons unrelated to capacity or fitness forthe office shall be unlawful.
(e) The board may elect from among its members such otherofficers as they deem necessary.
(f) The director of the department of environmentalmanagement shall direct staff to support the board within the constraints ofavailable resources.
(g) Within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscalyear, the board shall approve and submit an annual report to the governor, thespeaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, and thesecretary of state of its activities during that fiscal year. The report shallprovide: an operating statement summarizing meetings or hearings held,including meeting minutes, subjects addressed, decisions rendered, rules orregulations promulgated, studies conducted, policies and plans developed,approved or modified, and programs administered or initiated; a consolidatedfinancial statement of all funds received and expended including the source ofthe funds, a listing of any staff supported by these funds, a summary of anyclerical, administrative or technical support received; a summary ofperformance during the previous fiscal year including accomplishments,shortcomings and remedies; a synopsis of any legal matters related to theauthority of the board; a summary of any training courses held pursuant tosubsection 4-13-1.3(i); a briefing on anticipated activities in the upcomingfiscal year; and findings and recommendations for improvements. The reportshall be posted electronically as prescribed in § 42-20-8.2. The directorof the department of administration shall be responsible for the enforcement ofthis provision.
(h) Newly appointed and qualified members and new designeesof ex officio members of the board are required to complete a training coursewithin six (6) months of their qualification or designation. The course shallbe developed by the chair of the board, approved by the board and conducted bythe chair of the board. The board may approve the use of any board or staffmembers or other individuals to assist with training. The course shall includeinstruction in the following areas: chapters 4-13, 42-46, 36-14 and 38-2; andthe board's rules and regulations. The director of the department ofadministration shall, within ninety (90) days of the effective date of this act[April 20, 2006], prepare and disseminate training materials relatingto the provisions of chapters 42-46, 36-14 and 38-2.