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<section article="gag" article_name="Agriculture" number="2-313.1" title_number="2" title_name="Department of Agriculture" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners">
  <level label="a">
    <text>A veterinary practitioner who has reason to believe that an animal that has been treated by the veterinary practitioner has been subjected to cruelty or fighting in violation of § 10–604, § 10–606, § 10–607, or § 10–608 of the Criminal Law Article shall report the suspected animal cruelty or animal fighting to the appropriate law enforcement agency or county animal control agency in a timely manner.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>A veterinary practitioner who makes a report under subsection (a) of this section shall include in the report:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The name, age, and location of the animal;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The name and home address of the owner or custodian of the animal;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The nature and extent of the suspected animal cruelty or animal fighting, including any evidence or information available to the veterinary practitioner concerning possible previous instances of animal cruelty or animal fighting; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Any other information that would help determine:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The cause of the suspected animal cruelty or animal fighting; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The identity of any individual responsible for the suspected animal cruelty or animal fighting.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>A veterinary practitioner who reports in good faith suspected animal cruelty or animal fighting or participates in an investigation of suspected animal cruelty or animal fighting is immune from:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Civil liability that results from the report or participation in the investigation; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Criminal prosecution for the report or participation in the investigation.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The Board shall adopt regulations establishing:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Confidentiality procedures for protecting the identity of the veterinary practitioner making a report under this section;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Confidentiality procedures for protecting the substance of a report made under this section and any records associated with the report; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Conditions under which the substance of a report may be disclosed.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
