Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've been gathering Info on legislative proposals for both the federal and state levels that we are facing and affect reptiles so far. I hope this is helpful, and clears up any confusion. If I missed anything, feel free to add them to this thread. Feel free to crosspost this to other appropriate lists.

Federal- HR2811/S373- Would ban importation, intertate sales, and transport of 9 constrictors.
thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:s.00373:

New York- A07935 Prohibits the ownership, possession or harboring of a wild animal or reptile;
makes violation a class E felony.
assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=7935

Georgia-SB 303 A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 27-5-5 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to wild animals for which license or permit is required, so as to include certain reptiles; to provide for a period to obtain a license; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2009_10/sum/sb303.htm

Rhode Island- S2027- Bans alligators, crocodiles, pythons, and boa constrictors. Ownership shall be punishable by a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1000)
www.rilin.state.ri.us//BillText10/SenateText10/S2027.pdf

Indiana-SB 280 Exotic animals. Makes it a Class C misdemeanor to release an exotic or wild animal into the wild without legal authorization or a permit issued by the department of natural resources (department), and provides that the fine for unlawfully releasing an exotic or wild animal is at least $500 and not more than $2,500. Requires a person in the business of selling exotic reptiles to obtain a permit from the department, and makes it a Class C misdemeanor to sell an exotic reptile without a permit. Requires a person not in the business of selling exotic reptiles to notify the department before selling an exotic reptile, and makes the failure to notify the department a Class C infraction.
www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billwatch/billinfo?year=2010&session=1&request=getBill&docno=0280&doctype=SB

South Carolina-H 4218- REGULATION OF VENOMOUS REPTILES, CONSTRICTING SNAKES, AND CROCODILIANS
www.scstatehouse.gov/sess118_2009-2010/bills/4218.htm

Florida-S 318- Prohibits any person from possessing, importing, selling, trading, or breeding certain specified reptile species, including a reptile designated as a reptile of concern by the FWC. Provides certain exceptions applicable to reptiles for which the owner holds a permit issued before a specified date.
www.flsenate.gov/session/index.cfm?Mode=Bills&SubMenu=1&BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&BillNum=0318

Arizona-HB 2375- Adds the following reptiles to the prohibited wildlife list:
12. All species of the order crocodylia. Common names include: gavial, caiman, crocodile and alligator.
13. The following species of the order testudines. Common names include: turtle and tortoise:
(a) All species of the family chelydridae. Common name: snapping turtles.
(b) All species of the genus gopherus. Common name: gopher tortoise, including the desert tortoise.
14. All species of the following families or genera of the order Squamata:
(a) The family helodermatidae. Common names include: Gila monster and Mexican beaded lizard.
(b) The family elapidae. Common names include: Cobra, mamba, coral snake, krait and Australian elapid.
(c) The family hydrophiidae. Common name: Sea snake.
(d) The family viperidae. Common names include: True viper and pit viper including rattlesnake.
(e) The family atractaspidae. Common name: Burrowing asp.
(f) The following species and genera of the family colubridae:
(i) Dispholidus typus. Common name: Boomslang.
(ii) Thelotornis kirtlandii. Common names include: Bird snake and twig snake.
(iii) Rhabdophis. Common name: Keelback.
(iv) Boiga irregularis. Common name: Brown tree snake.
15. The following species within the order anura, common names frog and toad:
(a) All species of the genus xenopus. Common name: Clawed frog.
(b) The species bufo horribilis, bufo marinus, bufo paracnemis. Common names include: Giant or marine toad.
(c) All species of the genus rana. Common names include: Leopard frog and bullfrog, except bullfrogs possessed under section 17-102 are not included.
www.azleg.gov/DocumentsForBill.asp?Bill_Number=HB2375

There is now a House version of the Florida bill, HB 709

www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=43125&BillText=reptile&HouseChamber=B&SessionId=64&

Thanks for posting this list. One note on the Rhode Island proposal. Not only does it ban boas and pythons, it pretty much opens the door for regulation on almost any animal:

"No person shall import into, receive, or possess in this state without first obtaining a permit from the department, animals of the following orders, families, and genera: primates, carnivores, amphibia, reptilia, canidae, and insecta. The director may by regulation designate additional orders, families, genera, or species requiring a permit to import, receive or possess; or the director may by regulation waive the permit requirement for specific species, orders, families and genera."

Note that "carnivores" is included in the list of orders, families and genera. Huh?? Sounds like the work of PETA, they don't like meat eaters...

jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

I believe the NY bill is just to change the penalty from a misdemeanor to a felony on an already existing law they enacted several years ago that prohibits snakes that attain an adult length of greater than 8ft. primates, crocodilians and large cats.

I believe the NY bill is just to change the penalty from a misdemeanor to a felony on an already existing law they enacted several years ago

That sounds fairly innocuous, except that now people who may be willing to "take their chances" with the animals they love/have had for years and years, hoping not to get caught in the first place, or if they do get caught, to take the misdemeanor charge and pay the fines, will now be convicted felons: exotic pet owners who can't vote--who no longer have a political voice.
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

Irrevocably taking away a person's right to vote for a felony conviction is just a load of crap. There is absolutely no reason the right to vote should not be reinstated once that individual has fully paid his or her debt to society.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

Please re-read the bill. Notice this part:

"Section 1. Section 370 of the agriculture and markets law, as added by chapter 1047 of the laws of 1965, is amended to read as follows:
S 370. [Protection of the public from attack by] PROHIBITION OF THE OWNERSHIP, POSSESSION OR HARBORING OF wild animals and reptiles."

Notice that the info in [brackets] is being removed, and info in CAPS is being ADDED.

So, it would seem that while the law was origionally regarding keeping the public safe from these animals, it is now making it illegal to own them, AND increasing the penalty.

Katrina