On Wednesday February 3rd GA Senate Bill 303 was heard before the Senate Committee on Natural Resources & the Environment. This was the second hearing in a week regarding S303. Prior to the hearing USARK President, Andrew Wyatt, contacted Senator Douglas (the bill’s sponsor), Committee Chair Senator Tolleson and Vice Chair Senator Bulloch, and presented USARK’s Model State Legislation as a potential Committee Substitute. At the hearing USARK was represented by B.W. Smith of Atlanta who distributed copies of USARK’s proposal to the rest of the Committee Members. He then eloquently outlined the proposal and answered questions. S303 in its current form is cost prohibitive and does not address issues of secure containment and escape prevention. Further it makes no provision for the animals that could be rendered worthless and homeless overnight.

The benefits of the USARK proposal are:

* Secure Containment Required
* Safety & Escape Prevention Protocols
* No Permits, Fees or Central Administration
* Clear Remedy for Violations
* No Cost to State

The Committee decided to postpone a vote on S303 while members review the USARK proposal as a potential Committee Substitute. USARK would like to thank Senators Douglas, Toleson and Bulloch, as well as all the Members of the Committee, for their consideration. USARK looks forward to working with Committee Staff and Members to craft a bill that will provide best industry management standards for addressing the issues of secure containment and escape prevention without being prohibitive and forcing undue pressure on small business. If passed as written S303 could mean the loss of hundreds of jobs.

We need many more emails sent to provide grass roots support of our message in the GA Senate. Let's show the GA Senate the Reptile Nation is serious. OPPOSE S303- Send an Email to the Senate Natural Resources Committee today to OPPOSE S303.

usark.org/campaign.php?id=10


***Stay tuned for date and time of next Committee Hearing. Please attend if possible. There is Strength in Numbers... Protect Your Rights!***

This is a link to the USARK press release in the Atlanta Business Chronicle:

atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/prnewswire/press_releases/national/Georgia/2010/02/02/DC47994

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Andrew Wyatt
President USARK

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• UPDATE: Oppose GA S303 - USARK, Sun Feb 7 13:02:22 2010