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2010 SESSION

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10105032D
HOUSE BILL NO. 1145 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the House Committee on Health, Welfare, and Institutions on February 4, 2010) (Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Scott, J.M.) A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 54.1-3812.1, relating to veterinarians; reporting suspected animal cruelty.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 54.1-3812.1 as follows:

§ 54.1-3812.1. Reporting of animal cruelty.

Any veterinarian who, in his professional capacity, believes or has reason to believe that an animal has been subjected to animal cruelty, as defined in § 3.2-6570, may immediately report the matter to any animal control officer, law-enforcement officer, or representative of the State Veterinarian. Any veterinarian who makes a report of suspected animal cruelty pursuant to this section or who provides records or information related to a report of suspected cruelty or testifies in any judicial proceeding arising from such report, records, or information shall be immune from any civil or criminal liability or administrative penalty or sanction on account of such report, records, information, or testimony, unless such veterinarian acted in bad faith or with malicious purpose.