§1023. Investigation and reporting of cruelty

1.  Investigations; reports.  Law enforcement officers, animal control officers and humane agents shall investigate alleged violations of Title 7, chapter 739 and this chapter. The commissioner shall maintain a record of each alleged case of cruelty to animals investigated by a humane agent. The commissioner shall report annually on the disposition of cases as required under Title 7, section 3906-B.

A law enforcement officer or animal control officer who investigates a case of alleged cruelty to animals and pursues a civil or criminal action based on that investigation shall report to the commissioner on the final disposition of the case.

[PL 2001, c. 422, §13 (NEW).]

2.  Commissioner role.

[PL 1997, c. 690, §67 (RP).]

3.  Cooperation between agencies.  For the purposes of this section, law enforcement officers, the commissioner or the commissioner's designee, humane agents, a state veterinarian and certified animal control officers may exchange information and reports pertaining to an investigation of cruelty to animals pursuant to subsection 4 and Title 7, section 3909, subsection 6.

[PL 2013, c. 267, Pt. B, §11 (AMD).]

4.  Confidential information.  The names of and other identifying information about persons providing information pertaining to criminal or civil cruelty to animals to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry are confidential information and may not be released.

[PL 2013, c. 267, Pt. C, §2 (NEW).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1987, c. 383, §4 (NEW). PL 1989, c. 701, §§5,6 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 779, §50 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 690, §§66,67 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 422, §13 (RPR). PL 2013, c. 267, Pt. B, §11 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 267, Pt. C, §2 (AMD).