Bill Text: FL H0709 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Wildlife Regulation

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 6-2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-04-27 - Placed on Special Order Calendar; Substituted CS/SB 318; Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/SB 318 (Ch. 2010-185) -HJ 01162 [H0709 Detail]

Download: Florida-2010-H0709-Introduced.html

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HB 709

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to reptiles; amending s. 379.372, F.S.;
3	prohibiting any person from possessing, importing,
4	selling, trading, or breeding certain specified reptile
5	species, including a reptile designated as a reptile of
6	concern by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission;
7	providing certain exceptions applicable to reptiles for
8	which the owner holds a permit issued before a specified
9	date; providing an effective date.
10
11	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
12
13	Section 1. Section 379.372, Florida Statutes, is amended
14	to read:
15	379.372 Capturing, keeping, possessing, transporting, or
16	exhibiting venomous reptiles or reptiles of concern; license
17	required.-
18	(1)(a) No person, firm, or corporation shall capture,
19	keep, possess, or exhibit any poisonous or venomous reptile or
20	reptile of concern without first having obtained a special
21	permit or license therefor from the Fish and Wildlife
22	Conservation Commission as provided in this section.
23	(b)(2) By December 31, 2007, the commission shall
24	establish a list of reptiles of concern, including venomous,
25	nonvenomous, native, nonnative, or other reptiles, which require
26	additional regulation for capture, possession, transportation,
27	or exhibition due to their nature, habits, status, or potential
28	to negatively impact humans, the environment, or ecology, or
29	humans.
30	(c)(3) It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or
31	corporation, whether licensed hereunder or not, to capture,
32	keep, possess, or exhibit any venomous reptile or reptile of
33	concern in any manner not approved as safe, secure, and proper
34	by the commission. Venomous reptiles or reptiles of concern held
35	in captivity are subject to inspection by the commission. The
36	commission shall determine whether the reptiles are securely,
37	safely, and properly penned. In the event that the reptiles are
38	not safely penned, the commission shall report the situation in
39	writing to the person, firm, or corporation owning the reptiles.
40	Failure of the person, firm, or corporation to correct the
41	situation within 30 days after such written notice shall be
42	grounds for revocation of the license or permit of the person,
43	firm, or corporation.
44	(d)(4) Venomous reptiles or reptiles of concern shall be
45	transported in a safe, secure, and proper manner. The commission
46	shall establish by rule the requirements for the transportation
47	of venomous reptiles or reptiles of concern.
48	(2)(a) No person, firm, or corporation shall keep,
49	possess, import into the state, sell, barter, trade, or breed
50	the following species for personal use or for sale for personal
51	use:
52	1. Burmese or Indian python (Python molurus).
53	2. Reticulated python (Python reticulatus).
54	3. African rock python (Python sebae).
55	4. Amethystine or scrub python (Morelia amethystinus).
56	5. Anaconda (Eunectes).
57	6. Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus).
58	7. Any other reptile designated as a reptile of concern by
59	the commission.
60	(b) However, if a person holds a permit issued before July
61	1, 2010, pursuant to subsection (1) to legally possess a species
62	listed in paragraph (a), that person may possess the individual
63	reptile for the remainder of that reptile's life. Any person who
64	possesses an anaconda, other than a green anaconda (Eunectes
65	murinus), and who meets the required criteria must obtain a
66	permit pursuant to subsection (1) by October 1, 2010, in order
67	to keep that anaconda for the remainder of its life.
68	Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2010.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.