| Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: |
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| | Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §4016, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 425, §4, is | amended to read: |
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| | 1. Penalty. A person who violates this chapter commits a | civil violation for which the following penalties apply. |
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| A. The court shall adjudge a civil fine of not less than | $500 nor and not more than $2,500 for the first violation, | none of which may be suspended, and a civil except that for | a violation of section 4011 the court shall adjudge a fine | of not less than $1,000 nor and not more than $5,000 for a | first violation, a fine of not less than $2,000 and not more | than $5,000 for a 2nd or subsequent violation of section | 4011 and a fine of not less than $5,000 and not more than | $10,000 for a 3rd or subsequent violation, none of which may | be suspended. |
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| B. The court may order a person adjudicated as having | violated the laws against cruelty to animals to pay the | costs of the care, housing and veterinary medical treatment | for the animal. |
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| C. The court, as part of the judgment, may prohibit a | person adjudicated as having violated the laws against | cruelty to animals from owning, possessing or having on the | defendant's premises an animal for a period of time up to | and including permanent relinquishment. |
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| D. The court, as part of the judgment, may order that the | defendant person adjudicated as having violated the laws | against cruelty to animals submit to and complete a | psychological evaluation for in camera review by the court. |
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| | Sec. 2. 7 MRSA §4018, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 422, §11, is | amended to read: |
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| | 1. Report by veterinarian. A veterinarian licensed in | accordance with Title 32, chapter 71-A who, while acting in a | professional capacity, has reasonable cause to suspect that an | animal is the subject of cruelty or neglect in violation of this | chapter or Title 17, chapter 42, may shall report the suspected | violation to the commissioner, the commissioner's designee, an | animal control officer, an attorney for the State or a law | enforcement officer. A veterinarian making a report under this | section may appear and testify in a judicial or administrative | proceeding concerning the condition or care of the animal. |
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