| Passed by the Senate April 23, 2013 YEAS 47 BRAD OWEN ________________________________________ President of the Senate Passed by the House April 9, 2013 YEAS 93 FRANK CHOPP ________________________________________ Speaker of the House of Representatives | I, Hunter G. Goodman, Secretary of the Senate of the State of Washington, do hereby certify that the attached is SENATE BILL 5102 as passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on the dates hereon set forth. HUNTER G. GOODMAN ________________________________________ Secretary | |
| Approved May 15, 2013, 1:38 p.m. JAY INSLEE ________________________________________ Governor of the State of Washington | May 16, 2013 Secretary of State State of Washington |
| State of Washington | 63rd Legislature | 2013 Regular Session |
Read first time 01/18/13. Referred to Committee on Law & Justice .
AN ACT Relating to veterinarian immunity from liability when reporting suspected animal cruelty; and adding a new section to chapter 16.52 RCW.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 A new section is added to chapter 16.52 RCW
to read as follows:
A veterinarian lawfully licensed in this state to practice
veterinary medicine, surgery, and dentistry who reports, in good faith
and in the normal course of business, a suspected incident of animal
cruelty that is punishable under this chapter to the proper authorities
is immune from liability in any civil or criminal action brought
against such veterinarian for reporting the suspected incident. The
immunity provided in this section applies only if the veterinarian
receives no financial benefit from the suspected incident of animal
cruelty beyond charges for services rendered prior to the veterinarian
making the initial report.