Maine § 7 §3971 Vivisection prohibited in public and private schools

Maine Statutes

§ 7 §3971 — Vivisection prohibited in public and private schools

Maine § 7 §3971

Title 7AGRICULTURE AND ANIMALS

Part 9ANIMAL WELFARE

Ch. 731MISTREATMENT OF ANIMALS

This text of Maine § 7 §3971 (Vivisection prohibited in public and private schools) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Maine primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 7, § 7 §3971 (2026).

Text

1.Use of animals in schools. No live vertebrate, except eggs, may be used in kindergarten and grades one to 12 of any public or private school as part of a scientific experiment or for any other purpose in which the animal is experimentally medicated or drugged in a manner to cause painful reactions or to induce painful or lethal pathological conditions, or in which the animal is injured through any other type of treatment, experiment or procedure, including, but not limited to, anesthetization or electric shock or where the normal health of the animal is interfered with or where pain or distress is caused.

2.Treatment of animals in general. Live animals used as class pets or for purposes not prohibited in subsection 1 shall be housed and cared for in a safe and humane manner. The animal

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1.
Use of animals in schools.
No live vertebrate, except eggs, may be used in kindergarten and grades one to 12 of any public or private school as part of a scientific experiment or for any other purpose in which the animal is experimentally medicated or drugged in a manner to cause painful reactions or to induce painful or lethal pathological conditions, or in which the animal is injured through any other type of treatment, experiment or procedure, including, but not limited to, anesthetization or electric shock or where the normal health of the animal is interfered with or where pain or distress is caused.
2.
Treatment of animals in general.
Live animals used as class pets or for purposes not prohibited in subsection 1 shall be housed and cared for in a safe and humane manner. The animals shall not remain in school over periods when school is not in session, unless adequate care is provided at all times.
3.
Standards of treatment.
Any animal whose use is permitted under this section shall be treated in accordance with the ethical and humane standards promulgated by the commissioner pursuant to the rule-making provisions of the Maine Administrative Procedure Act, Title 5, chapter 375, after consultation with representative groups in the State having an interest or expertise in the field of animal welfare, biology and education.
4.
Enforcement.
The commissioner shall enforce this section in consultation with the Commissioner of Education.
5.
Penalty for violations.
Any person who violates this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than $75.