The bill amends Section 12-29-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-29, known as the "Domestic Violence Prevention Act," by expanding the definition of domestic violence to include additional offenses related to animal cruelty. Specifically, the bill inserts three new items into the list of crimes that constitute domestic violence when committed by one family or household member against another: (18) unnecessary cruelty to an animal owned or cared for by a household member (§ 4-1-3); (19) malicious injury to or killing of an animal owned or cared for by a household member (§ 4-1-5); and (20) abandonment of an animal owned or cared for by a household member (§ 4-1-26). These insertions expand the scope of domestic violence to include certain acts of violence or neglect against animals that are owned or cared for by someone within the household.

The bill also makes a minor deletion by removing the word "and" after item (16) to accommodate the addition of the new items. The explanation provided by the Legislative Council clarifies that the purpose of the act is to include animal cruelty offenses in the list of domestic violence crimes. The bill will take effect immediately upon passage, indicating that these changes to the law will be enforceable as soon as the bill is enacted.