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MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2010 Regular Session
To: Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
By: Representative Banks
House Bill 1293
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE MISSISSIPPI NON-NATIVE REPTILE PROGRAM; TO REQUIRE THE PROGRAM TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS; TO PROVIDE MINIMUM GUIDELINES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) There is established the Mississippi Non-native Reptile Program to be administered by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. The purpose of the program is to prohibit the release of non-native reptiles that may breed and endanger Mississippi native animal species and citizens.
(2) The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shall create rules and regulations to implement such programs that, at least:
(a) Prohibits the release of snakes not found in and are not indigenous to Mississippi from being released in the state's wildlife;
(b) Regulates venomous, poisonous and constrictor snakes of any kind; and
(c) Requires a person to report or turn in any snakes to the department.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2010.
pijac.org/_documents/ms_hb_1293.pdf

Thank you for posting this, I was not aware this was going on in Mississippi.
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Michelle
www.AssortedSerpents.com
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
The Lord God made them all.

I just got wind of this a couple days ago. Back around 1990 we got a similar law "tabled" which here in Mississippi means killed. It would have prohibited owning poison dart frogs and Komodo dragons in the Magnolia State.

This new proposal is a case of one legislator and some nervous law enforcement officers jumping on the bandwagon. I know that we already have requirements for the keeping of venomous snakes on the books, and I'm sure that something about releasing non-native wildlife must be there, too. I'll stay on top of this. Like I haven't got better things to do...

Cheers,

Terry Vandeventer

"(b) Regulates venomous, poisonous and constrictor snakes of any kind;"

"constrictor snakes of any kind" Probably not their intention. Demonstration of their lack of understanding of the subject they wish to regulate/ban/control.

Just more "The sky is falling." Chicken Little Legislation.

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

Below is a link to the bill and it's status in the Mississippi Legislature
Mississippi Legislature - House Bill 1293 - Status and Information