§ 4-13-1.3. Rabies control board. (a) There shall be a rabies control board consisting of seven (7) people as follows:

(1) The director of the Rhode Island department of environmental management, or his or her designee;

(2) The director of the Rhode Island department of health, or his or her designee;

(3) A Rhode Island licensed veterinarian, appointed by the governor, who is a member of the Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association;

(4) A livestock farmer, appointed by the governor, who is a member of the Rhode Island Farm Bureau;

(5) A member of a recognized Rhode Island humane group (such as the Rhode Island Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), appointed by the governor;

(6) The state veterinarian, who shall serve as chairperson;

(7) A person employed as an animal control officer by a Rhode Island municipality, and who is recommended to serve on the rabies control board by the league of cities and towns, and who is appointed by the governor.

(b) All appointments made under this section after April 20, 2006, shall be subject to the advice and consent of the senate. The members of the board shall serve without compensation. The board members from the departments of health and environmental management shall serve at the discretion of their directors. The state veterinarian shall serve without term. Nongovernmental members shall serve for a period of three (3) years and reappointments shall be made by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate.

(c) Vacancies for citizen members shall be filled by appointment, in the same manner as the original appointment, for the unexpired term only. Four (4) members of the board shall constitute a quorum.

(d) Members of the board shall be removable by the governor pursuant to § 36-1-7 and for cause only. Removal solely for partisan or personal reasons unrelated to capacity or fitness for the office shall be unlawful.

(e) The board may elect from among its members such other officers as it deems necessary.

(f) The director of the department of environmental management shall direct staff to support the board within the constraints of available resources.

(g) Within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year, the board shall approve and submit an annual report to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, and the secretary of state of its activities during that fiscal year. The report shall provide: an operating statement summarizing meetings or hearings held, including meeting minutes, subjects addressed, decisions rendered, rules or regulations promulgated, studies conducted, policies and plans developed, approved or modified, and programs administered or initiated; a consolidated financial statement of all funds received and expended, including the source of the funds, a listing of any staff supported by these funds, a summary of any clerical, administrative, or technical support received; a summary of performance during the previous fiscal year including accomplishments, shortcomings, and remedies; a synopsis of any legal matters related to the authority of the board; a summary of any training courses held pursuant to subsection (h); a briefing on anticipated activities in the upcoming fiscal year; and findings and recommendations for improvements. The report shall be posted electronically as prescribed in § 42-20-8.2. The director of the department of administration shall be responsible for the enforcement of this provision.

(h) Newly appointed and qualified members and new designees of ex officio members of the board are required to complete a training course within six (6) months of their qualification or designation. The course shall be developed by the chair of the board, approved by the board, and conducted by the chair of the board. The board may approve the use of any board or staff members or other individuals to assist with training. The course shall include instruction in the following areas: chapters 13 of title 4, 46 of title 42, 14 of title 36 and 2 of title 38; and the board's rules and regulations. The director of the department of administration shall, within ninety (90) days of April 20, 2006, prepare and disseminate training materials relating to the provisions of chapters 46 of title 42, 14 of title 36 and 2 of title 38.

History of Section. (P.L. 1992, ch. 353, § 1; P.L. 1995, ch. 388, § 1; P.L. 2001, ch. 180, § 3; P.L. 2006, ch. 22, § 2; P.L. 2006, ch. 27, § 2; P.L. 2016, ch. 512, art. 2, § 47; P.L. 2017, ch. 11, § 1; P.L. 2017, ch. 28, § 1.)