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<section article="gcr" article_name="Criminal Law" number="10-608.1" title_number="10" title_name="Crimes Against Public Health, Conduct, and Sensibilities" subtitle_number="6" subtitle_name="Crimes Relating to Animals">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Enclosure” means a structure used for confinement, including a wire cage or an item traditionally used for another purpose such as a water tank or plastic barrel, that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>is used to provide long–term housing for one adult rooster; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>prevents interaction with other roosters.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Property” means:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>a parcel of land; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>a combination of parcels of land operating as a single unit.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>“Rooster” means a male chicken that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>is at least 6 months old;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>has fully developed an adult plumage; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>is capable of crowing.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>This section does not apply to:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>commercial poultry producers, as defined in § 8–704.2 of the Agriculture Article;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>a public school or nonpublic school that receives State funds;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>a government–operated animal shelter;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>an animal welfare organization, as defined in § 19–701 of the Business Regulation Article;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>a member of a 4–H or Future Farmers of America program if, on request of an animal control officer, an officer of a county humane society, or a police officer, the member provides in writing proof of:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>membership in a 4–H or Future Farmers of America program; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>authorization from the county in which the roosters are located that specifies:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>the reason for keeping roosters on a property;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>the number of roosters that may be kept;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>the breed of each rooster that may be kept;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>the duration of time each rooster may be kept; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="5">
          <text>the address of the property where each rooster may be kept; or</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>a person if, on request of an animal control officer, an officer of a county humane society, or a police officer, the person provides in writing proof that the person kept more adult hens than roosters within the immediately preceding 6–month period.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Beginning January 1, 2027, a person who keeps roosters that are maintained individually may not keep a rooster movement–constrained through the use of an enclosure or tether.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>This section does not affect the authority of a county, municipality, or unit of local government to enact and enforce standards or requirements related to roosters that are more stringent than the requirements of this section.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>This section does not limit or supersede any other county, municipal, or State law, rule, or regulation that provides more stringent requirements regarding the keeping of roosters.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A violation of this section is a civil offense.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A person who violates this section is subject to:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>for a first offense, a warning;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>for a second offense, a civil penalty of up to $500 per rooster; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>for a third or subsequent offense, a civil penalty of up to $1,000 per rooster.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>This section may be enforced by:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>any State or local law enforcement officer; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>a local animal control authority for the jurisdiction where the violation occurs.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
