§ 3801. Rabies control authority

(a) In the event of an outbreak of rabies, the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets, the Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife, and the Commissioner of Health shall work together to assist the affected towns. In addition to the responsibilities provided by this chapter, the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets shall generally be responsible for management of rabies in livestock, education of veterinarians and livestock owners concerning rabies, and vaccination recommendations for livestock. The Department of Fish and Wildlife shall generally be responsible for management of rabies in wildlife and the education of the sporting community, municipal officials, and the general public about rabies in wildlife. The Department of Health shall generally be responsible for the prevention of rabies in humans, management of rabies in animals that may have exposed humans, and assisting with diagnosis of rabies in animals that may have exposed humans and supervision of health officials’ education.

(b) In addition to any other applicable authority, the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, the Department of Health, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife may, individually or jointly, adopt rules to control the spread of rabies within a specific region or within the State as a whole. The Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets is authorized to adopt rules necessary to control the spread of rabies in domestic animals, domestic pets, and wolf-hybrids, including mandating the vaccination of specific species of animals, the conditions under which rabies inoculation clinics may be operated, and establishing quarantines for domestic animals. The Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife is authorized to adopt rules necessary to control the spread of rabies in wildlife, including mandating the vaccination of specific species of wild animals, translocation of wild animals, and the destruction of wild animals through the use of registered pesticides, trapping, or other means as may be necessary. The Commissioner of Health is authorized to adopt rules requiring the reporting of incidents of animals biting humans; the confinement, quarantine, observation, and disposition of animals that are suspected of exposing humans to rabies; and the disposition of animals bitten by animals suspected of carrying rabies and other rules as necessary to protect the general public from rabies.

(c) The Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, the Department of Health, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife may cooperate with other federal, state, and local officials in controlling the spread of rabies within the State and within the region. (Amended 1965, No. 36, § 4, eff. April 28, 1965; 1983, No. 158 (Adj. Sess.), eff. April 13, 1984; 1989, No. 256 (Adj. Sess.), § 10(a), eff. Jan. 1, 1991; 1993, No. 213 (Adj. Sess.), § 23, eff. June 15, 1994; 2003, No. 42, § 2, eff. May 27, 2003.)