Bill Text: OH SB310 | 2011-2012 | 129th General Assembly | Engrossed
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: To establish requirements governing the possession of dangerous wild animals and restricted snakes.
Sponsorship: Broadly Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2012-09-05 - Effective Date [SB310 Detail]
Download: Ohio-2011-SB310-Engrossed.html
As Passed by the House
A BILL
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Bill Title: To establish requirements governing the possession of dangerous wild animals and restricted snakes.
Sponsorship: Broadly Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2012-09-05 - Effective Date [SB310 Detail]
Download: Ohio-2011-SB310-Engrossed.html
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Senator Balderson
Cosponsors:
Senators Jones, Bacon, Beagle, Burke, Gentile, Hite, Lehner, Manning, Niehaus, Sawyer, Widener
Representatives Fedor, Heard, Murray, Okey, Antonio, Barnes, Beck, Boyd, Carney, Celebrezze, Clyde, Driehaus, Fende, Garland, Grossman, Hill, Lundy, Mallory, McClain, Milkovich, O'Brien, Phillips, Ramos, Thompson, Yuko Speaker Batchelder
| To amend section 1533.71, to enact sections 935.01, | 1 |
| 935.011, 935.02 to 935.04, 935.041, 935.05 to | 2 |
| 935.10, 935.101, 935.11 to 935.29, and 935.99, and | 3 |
| to repeal section 2927.21 of the Revised Code to | 4 |
| establish requirements governing the possession of | 5 |
| dangerous wild animals and restricted snakes. | 6 |
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
| Section 1. That section 1533.71 be amended and sections | 7 |
| 935.01, 935.011, 935.02, 935.03, 935.04, 935.041, 935.05, 935.06, | 8 |
| 935.07, 935.08, 935.09, 935.10, 935.101, 935.11, 935.12, 935.13, | 9 |
| 935.14, 935.15, 935.16, 935.17, 935.18, 935.19, 935.20, 935.21, | 10 |
| 935.22, 935.23, 935.24, 935.25, 935.26, 935.27, 935.28, 935.29, | 11 |
| and 935.99 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows: | 12 |
| Sec. 935.01. As used in this chapter: | 13 |
| (A) "Board of health" means the board of health of a city or | 14 |
| general health district or the authority having the duties of a | 15 |
| board of health in any city authorized by section 3709.05 of the | 16 |
| Revised Code. | 17 |
| (B) "Circus" means a traveling show to which all of the | 18 |
| following apply: | 19 |
| (1) It is licensed by the United States department of | 20 |
| agriculture under the federal animal welfare act. | 21 |
| (2) It presents dangerous wild animals, restricted snakes, or | 22 |
| both in a public performance as its own event or as part of a fair | 23 |
| or carnival. | 24 |
| (3) It does not allow physical contact between the public and | 25 |
| the dangerous wild animals or restricted snakes possessed by it. | 26 |
| Division (B)(3) of this section does not apply to rides or other | 27 |
| interactions between the public and an elephant, provided that | 28 |
| such a ride or other interaction is under the direct supervision | 29 |
| of an experienced animal handler. | 30 |
| (4) It is in the state for less than sixty-five days each | 31 |
| year. | 32 |
| (C) "Dangerous wild animal" means any of the following, | 33 |
| including hybrids unless otherwise specified: | 34 |
| (1) Hyenas; | 35 |
| (2) Gray wolves, excluding hybrids; | 36 |
| (3) Lions; | 37 |
| (4) Tigers; | 38 |
| (5) Jaguars; | 39 |
| (6) Leopards, including clouded leopards, Sunda clouded | 40 |
| leopards, and snow leopards; | 41 |
| (7) All of the following, including hybrids with domestic | 42 |
| cats unless otherwise specified: | 43 |
| (a) Cheetahs; | 44 |
| (b) Lynxes, including Canadian lynxes, Eurasian lynxes, and | 45 |
| Iberian lynxes; | 46 |
| (c) Cougars, also known as pumas or mountain lions; | 47 |
| (d) Caracals; | 48 |
| (e) Servals, excluding hybrids with domestic cats commonly | 49 |
| known as savannah cats. | 50 |
| (8) Bears; | 51 |
| (9) Elephants; | 52 |
| (10) Rhinoceroses; | 53 |
| (11) Hippopotamuses; | 54 |
| (12) Cape buffaloes; | 55 |
| (13) African wild dogs; | 56 |
| (14) Komodo dragons; | 57 |
| (15) Alligators; | 58 |
| (16) Crocodiles; | 59 |
| (17) Caimans, excluding dwarf caimans; | 60 |
| (18) Gharials; | 61 |
| (19) Nonhuman primates other than lemurs and the nonhuman | 62 |
| primates specified in division (C)(20) of this section; | 63 |
| (20) All of the following nonhuman primates: | 64 |
| (a) Golden lion, black-faced lion, golden-rumped lion, | 65 |
| cotton-top, emperor, saddlebacked, black-mantled, and Geoffroy's | 66 |
| tamarins; | 67 |
| (b) Southern and northern night monkeys; | 68 |
| (c) Dusky titi and masked titi monkeys; | 69 |
| (d) Muriquis; | 70 |
| (e) Goeldi's monkeys; | 71 |
| (f) White-faced, black-bearded, white-nose bearded, and monk | 72 |
| sakis; | 73 |
| (g) Bald and black uakaris; | 74 |
| (h) Black-handed, white-bellied, brown-headed, and black | 75 |
| spider monkeys; | 76 |
| (i) Common woolly monkeys; | 77 |
| (j) Red, black, and mantled howler monkeys. | 78 |
| "Dangerous wild animal" does not include a domesticated | 79 |
| animal that is considered livestock as defined in section 901.70 | 80 |
| of the Revised Code. | 81 |
| (D) "Federal animal welfare act" has the same meaning as in | 82 |
| section 959.131 of the Revised Code. | 83 |
| (E) "Felony drug abuse offense" has the same meaning as in | 84 |
| section 2925.01 of the Revised Code. | 85 |
| (F) "Health district" means a city or general health district | 86 |
| created by or under the authority of Chapter 3709. of the Revised | 87 |
| Code. | 88 |
| (G) "Humane society" means an organization that is organized | 89 |
| under section 1717.05 of the Revised Code. | 90 |
| (H) "Law enforcement officer" means a sheriff, deputy | 91 |
| sheriff, constable, police officer of a township or joint police | 92 |
| district, marshal, deputy marshal, municipal police officer, or | 93 |
| state highway patrol trooper. | 94 |
| (I) "Natural resources law enforcement officers" means peace | 95 |
| officers as specified in division (A)(6) of section 109.71 of the | 96 |
| Revised Code and employees of the division of wildlife specified | 97 |
| in sections 1531.13 and 1531.14 of the Revised Code. | 98 |
| (J) "Offense of violence" has the same meaning as in section | 99 |
| 2901.01 of the Revised Code. | 100 |
| (K) "Rescue facility" means a nonprofit organization as | 101 |
| described in section 170 of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," | 102 |
| 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C. 170, as amended, that operates a place | 103 |
| of refuge where abused, neglected, unwanted, impounded, abandoned, | 104 |
| orphaned, or displaced dangerous wild animals are provided care | 105 |
| for their lifetime or released back to their natural habitat, and, | 106 |
| with respect to an animal possessed by the organization, that does | 107 |
| not do any of the following: | 108 |
| (1) Sell, trade, or barter the animal or the animal's body | 109 |
| parts; | 110 |
| (2) Use the animal in any manner for profit; | 111 |
| (3) Breed the animal; | 112 |
| (4) Allow the public the opportunity to come into contact | 113 |
| with the animal. | 114 |
| (L) "Restricted snake" means any of the following: | 115 |
| (1) All of the following constricting snakes that are twelve | 116 |
| feet or longer: | 117 |
| (a) Green anacondas; | 118 |
| (b) Yellow anacondas; | 119 |
| (c) Reticulated pythons; | 120 |
| (d) Indian pythons; | 121 |
| (e) Burmese pythons; | 122 |
| (f) North African rock pythons; | 123 |
| (g) South African rock pythons; | 124 |
| (h) Amethystine pythons. | 125 |
| (2) Species of the following families: | 126 |
| (a) Atractaspididae; | 127 |
| (b) Elapidae; | 128 |
| (c) Viperidae. | 129 |
| (3) Boomslang snakes; | 130 |
| (4) Twig snakes. | 131 |
| (M) "Rule" means a rule adopted under section 935.17 of the | 132 |
| Revised Code. | 133 |
| (N) "Veterinarian" means a person who is licensed under | 134 |
| Chapter 4741. of the Revised Code. | 135 |
| (O) "Wildlife sanctuary" means a nonprofit organization as | 136 |
| described in section 170 of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," | 137 |
| 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C. 170, as amended, that is accredited or | 138 |
| verified by the global federation of animal sanctuaries, that | 139 |
| operates a place of refuge where abused, neglected, unwanted, | 140 |
| impounded, abandoned, orphaned, or displaced dangerous wild | 141 |
| animals or restricted snakes are provided care for their lifetime | 142 |
| or released back to their natural habitat, and, with respect to an | 143 |
| animal or snake possessed by the organization, that does not do | 144 |
| any of the following: | 145 |
| (1) Use or allow the use of the animal or snake for any type | 146 |
| of entertainment or in a traveling exhibit; | 147 |
| (2) Sell, trade, lease, loan, or barter the animal or snake | 148 |
| or the animal's or snake's body parts; | 149 |
| (3) Use or allow the use of the animal or snake in any manner | 150 |
| for profit; | 151 |
| (4) Breed the animal or snake; | 152 |
| (5) Allow the public the opportunity to come into physical | 153 |
| contact with the animal or snake. | 154 |
| Sec. 935.011. The director of agriculture may recommend to | 155 |
| the general assembly species of animals to be included in the | 156 |
| definition of "dangerous wild animal" and species of snakes to be | 157 |
| included in the definition of "restricted snake" in section 935.01 | 158 |
| of the Revised Code. The director shall not add species of animals | 159 |
| to be included in the definition of "dangerous wild animal" and | 160 |
| species of snakes to be included in the definition of "restricted | 161 |
| snake" without the approval of the General Assembly. | 162 |
| Sec. 935.02. (A) No person shall possess a dangerous wild | 163 |
| animal on or after January 1, 2014. | 164 |
| (B)(1) Except as provided in divisions (G)(1) and (2) of | 165 |
| section 935.06 of the Revised Code, no person shall acquire, buy, | 166 |
| sell, trade, or transfer possession or ownership of a dangerous | 167 |
| wild animal on or after the effective date of this section. | 168 |
| (2) Notwithstanding division (B)(1) of this section, a person | 169 |
| that operates a rescue facility may acquire, except by purchase, | 170 |
| possession or ownership of a dangerous wild animal if one of the | 171 |
| following applies: | 172 |
| (a) Prior to January 1, 2014, the person is authorized to do | 173 |
| so by the director of agriculture in accordance with procedures | 174 |
| adopted by the director. | 175 |
| (b) On or after January 1, 2014, the person has obtained a | 176 |
| rescue facility permit under section 935.101 of the Revised Code. | 177 |
| Sec. 935.03. (A) Division (A) of section 935.02 of the | 178 |
| Revised Code does not apply to any of the following: | 179 |
| (1) A person to which all of the following apply: | 180 |
| (a) The person possesses a dangerous wild animal. | 181 |
| (b) The person has been issued a license by the United States | 182 |
| department of agriculture under the federal animal welfare act. | 183 |
| (c) The director of agriculture has determined that the | 184 |
| person is in the process of becoming an accredited member of the | 185 |
| association of zoos and aquariums or the zoological association of | 186 |
| America. | 187 |
| (d) The director has informed the person that the person is | 188 |
| exempt from division (A) of section 935.02 of the Revised Code. | 189 |
| (2) An organization to which all of the following apply: | 190 |
| (a) The organization possesses a dangerous wild animal. | 191 |
| (b) The director has determined that the organization is in | 192 |
| the process of being accredited or verified by the global | 193 |
| federation of animal sanctuaries as a wildlife sanctuary. | 194 |
| (c) The director has informed the organization that it is | 195 |
| exempt from division (A) of section 935.02 of the Revised Code. | 196 |
| (3) A person whose possession of a dangerous wild animal is | 197 |
| authorized by an unexpired permit issued under this chapter. | 198 |
| (B) Except for the purposes of divisions (A) and (B) of | 199 |
| section 935.04 of the Revised Code, this chapter does not apply to | 200 |
| any of the following: | 201 |
| (1) A facility that is an accredited member of the | 202 |
| association of zoos and aquariums or the zoological association of | 203 |
| America and that is licensed by the United States department of | 204 |
| agriculture under the federal animal welfare act; | 205 |
| (2) A research facility as defined in the federal animal | 206 |
| welfare act; | 207 |
| (3) A research facility that is accredited by the association | 208 |
| for the assessment and accreditation of laboratory animal care | 209 |
| international; | 210 |
| (4) A circus; | 211 |
| (5) A wildlife rehabilitation facility that is issued a | 212 |
| permit by the chief of the division of wildlife in rules adopted | 213 |
| under section 1531.08 of the Revised Code and that rehabilitates | 214 |
| dangerous wild animals or restricted snakes that are native to the | 215 |
| state for the purpose of reintroduction into the wild; | 216 |
| (6) A veterinarian that is providing temporary veterinary | 217 |
| care to a dangerous wild animal or restricted snake; | 218 |
| (7) A wildlife sanctuary; | 219 |
| (8) An individual who does not reside in this state, is | 220 |
| traveling through this state with a dangerous wild animal or | 221 |
| restricted snake, and does all of the following: | 222 |
| (a) Confines the animal or snake in a cage at all times; | 223 |
| (b) Confines the animal or snake in a cage that is not | 224 |
| accessible to the public; | 225 |
| (c) Does not exhibit the animal or snake; | 226 |
| (d) Is in the state not more than forty-eight hours unless | 227 |
| the animal or snake is receiving veterinary care. | 228 |
| (9) An educational institution that displays a single | 229 |
| dangerous wild animal as a sports mascot and that meets all of the | 230 |
| following criteria: | 231 |
| (a) An official of the educational institution has submitted | 232 |
| an affidavit attesting that the institution will care for the | 233 |
| animal as long as the animal lives and in a facility that is an | 234 |
| accredited member of the association of zoos and aquariums or the | 235 |
| zoological association of America. | 236 |
| (b) The educational institution maintains a liability | 237 |
| insurance policy with an insurer authorized or approved to write | 238 |
| such insurance in this state that covers claims for injury or | 239 |
| damage to persons or property caused by a dangerous wild animal. | 240 |
| The amount of the insurance coverage shall be not less than one | 241 |
| million dollars. | 242 |
| (c) During display and transport, the educational institution | 243 |
| confines the dangerous wild animal in a cage that does not permit | 244 |
| physical contact between the animal and the public. | 245 |
| (d) The educational institution began displaying a dangerous | 246 |
| wild animal as a mascot prior to the effective date of this | 247 |
| section. | 248 |
| (10) Any person who has been issued a permit under section | 249 |
| 1533.08 of the Revised Code; | 250 |
| (11) Any person authorized to possess a dangerous wild animal | 251 |
| or restricted snake under section 1531.25 of the Revised Code or | 252 |
| rules adopted under it; | 253 |
| (12) A mobility impaired person as defined in section 955.011 | 254 |
| of the Revised Code who possesses a dangerous wild animal | 255 |
| specified in division (C)(20)(h) of section 935.01 of the Revised | 256 |
| Code that has been trained by a nonprofit agency or is in such | 257 |
| training to assist the mobility impaired person; | 258 |
| (13) A deaf or hearing-impaired person who possesses a | 259 |
| dangerous wild animal specified in division (C)(20)(h) of section | 260 |
| 935.01 of the Revised Code that has been trained by a nonprofit | 261 |
| agency or is in such training to assist the deaf or | 262 |
| hearing-impaired person; | 263 |
| (14) A person who is blind as defined in section 955.011 of | 264 |
| the Revised Code and possesses a dangerous wild animal specified | 265 |
| in division (C)(20)(h) of section 935.01 of the Revised Code that | 266 |
| has been trained by a nonprofit agency or is in such training to | 267 |
| assist the blind person. | 268 |
| Sec. 935.04. (A) A person that possesses a dangerous wild | 269 |
| animal on the effective date of this section shall register the | 270 |
| animal with the director of agriculture in accordance with this | 271 |
| section not later than sixty days after the effective date of this | 272 |
| section. | 273 |
| (B) A person shall register a dangerous wild animal on a form | 274 |
| prescribed and provided by the director. The form shall include | 275 |
| all of the following: | 276 |
| (1) The name, address, social security number, and federal | 277 |
| employer identification number, if applicable, of the person | 278 |
| registering the dangerous wild animal; | 279 |
| (2) If different from the information provided under division | 280 |
| (B)(1) of this section, the name and address of the location where | 281 |
| the dangerous wild animal is confined; | 282 |
| (3) A description of the dangerous wild animal, including the | 283 |
| scientific and common names of the animal, the name that the | 284 |
| person has given the animal, the animal's sex, age, color, and | 285 |
| weight, and any distinguishing marks or coloration that would aid | 286 |
| in the identification of the animal; | 287 |
| (4) The name, address, and telephone number of the | 288 |
| veterinarian that provides veterinary care to the dangerous wild | 289 |
| animal; | 290 |
| (5) Any other information required by the director in rules. | 291 |
| (C) Beginning ninety days after the director adopts rules | 292 |
| under division (A) of section 935.17 of the Revised Code, a person | 293 |
| that has registered a dangerous wild animal under this section | 294 |
| shall comply with the applicable requirements regarding the care | 295 |
| and housing of dangerous wild animals established in those rules. | 296 |
| (D) A person that registers a dangerous wild animal under | 297 |
| this section shall have permanently implanted in the dangerous | 298 |
| wild animal a microchip at the time of registration. The microchip | 299 |
| shall have an identification number that is unique to the | 300 |
| microchip. In addition, the microchip shall contain a passive | 301 |
| integrated transponder, which shall have a frequency of one | 302 |
| hundred twenty-five, one hundred thirty-four and two-tenths, or | 303 |
| four hundred kilohertz. | 304 |
| (E) A person that possesses a registered dangerous wild | 305 |
| animal on October 1, 2013, and that wishes to continue to possess | 306 |
| the dangerous wild animal on and after January 1, 2014, shall | 307 |
| obtain a wildlife shelter permit issued under section 935.06 of | 308 |
| the Revised Code or a wildlife propagation permit issued under | 309 |
| section 935.07 of the Revised Code. | 310 |
| Sec. 935.041. A person that possesses any of the following | 311 |
| animals shall register the animal in the same manner as provided | 312 |
| in section 935.04 of the Revised Code: | 313 |
| (A) Pygmy, white-tufted-ear, silvery, and black-pencilled | 314 |
| marmosets; | 315 |
| (B) Squirrel monkeys; | 316 |
| (C) Brown, white-faced, weeping, and white-frontedcapuchins; | 317 |
| (D) Lemurs. | 318 |
| Sec. 935.05. (A) A person that possesses a registered | 319 |
| dangerous wild animal in this state on October 1, 2013, that | 320 |
| wishes to continue to possess the dangerous wild animal on and | 321 |
| after January 1, 2014, and that does not intend to propagate the | 322 |
| animal shall apply for a wildlife shelter permit under this | 323 |
| section. | 324 |
| (B) An applicant for a wildlife shelter permit shall file an | 325 |
| application for a permit with the director of agriculture on a | 326 |
| form prescribed and provided by the director. An applicant need | 327 |
| apply for only one permit regardless of the number of dangerous | 328 |
| wild animals that the applicant possesses. The application shall | 329 |
| include all of the following: | 330 |
| (1) The name, date of birth, address, social security number, | 331 |
| and federal employer identification number, if applicable, of the | 332 |
| applicant; | 333 |
| (2) If different from the information provided under division | 334 |
| (B)(1) of this section, the name and address of the location where | 335 |
| each dangerous wild animal will be confined; | 336 |
| (3) A description of each dangerous wild animal, including | 337 |
| the scientific and common names, the name that the applicant has | 338 |
| given the animal, the animal's sex, age, color, and weight, and | 339 |
| any distinguishing marks or coloration that would aid in the | 340 |
| identification of the animal; | 341 |
| (4) The identification number of the microchip that is | 342 |
| implanted in each dangerous wild animal and the frequency of the | 343 |
| passive integrated transponder contained in the microchip as | 344 |
| required in section 935.04 of the Revised Code; | 345 |
| (5) Proof of financial responsibility as required in division | 346 |
| (D) of this section; | 347 |
| (6) Except as otherwise provided in this section, proof that | 348 |
| the applicant has at least two years of experience in the care of | 349 |
| the species of dangerous wild animal or animals that are the | 350 |
| subject of the application. If an applicant cannot provide such | 351 |
| proof, the applicant shall pass a written examination regarding | 352 |
| the care of dangerous wild animals that is established and | 353 |
| administered in accordance with rules. | 354 |
| (7) A plan of action to be undertaken if a dangerous wild | 355 |
| animal escapes; | 356 |
| (8) Proof that the applicant has established a | 357 |
| veterinarian-client relationship as described in section 4741.04 | 358 |
| of the Revised Code with regard to each dangerous wild animal; | 359 |
| (9) Any additional information required in rules. | 360 |
| An applicant shall submit a copy of the plan of action | 361 |
| required in division (B)(7) of this section to the sheriff of the | 362 |
| county and to the chief law enforcement officer and fire chief of | 363 |
| the township or municipal corporation having jurisdiction where | 364 |
| the dangerous wild animal or animals are confined. | 365 |
| (C) An applicant shall submit one of the following fees, as | 366 |
| applicable, with an application: | 367 |
| (1) Two hundred fifty dollars if the applicant possesses not | 368 |
| more than three dangerous wild animals; | 369 |
| (2) Five hundred dollars if the applicant possesses at least | 370 |
| four, but not more than ten dangerous wild animals; | 371 |
| (3) One thousand dollars if the applicant possesses at least | 372 |
| eleven, but not more than fifteen dangerous wild animals; | 373 |
| (4) One thousand dollars if the applicant possesses sixteen | 374 |
| or more dangerous wild animals plus an additional one hundred | 375 |
| twenty-five dollars for each animal that the applicant possesses | 376 |
| in an amount greater than fifteen dangerous wild animals. | 377 |
| (D)(1) An applicant shall obtain and maintain proof of | 378 |
| financial responsibility in one of the following forms: | 379 |
| (a) A liability insurance policy with an insurer authorized | 380 |
| or approved to write such insurance in this state that covers | 381 |
| claims for injury or damage to persons or property caused by a | 382 |
| dangerous wild animal possessed by the applicant or any resulting | 383 |
| claims against the state; | 384 |
| (b) A surety bond, which shall be executed by a surety | 385 |
| company authorized to do business in this state that covers claims | 386 |
| for injury or damage to persons or property caused by a dangerous | 387 |
| wild animal possessed by the applicant or any resulting claims | 388 |
| against the state. The bond shall be in a form approved by the | 389 |
| director of agriculture. | 390 |
| (2) Proof of financial responsibility shall be in one of the | 391 |
| following amounts, as applicable: | 392 |
| (a) Two hundred thousand dollars if the applicant possesses | 393 |
| not more than five dangerous wild animals; | 394 |
| (b) Five hundred thousand dollars if the applicant possesses | 395 |
| at least six, but not more than fifteen dangerous wild animals; | 396 |
| (c) One million dollars if the applicant possesses sixteen or | 397 |
| more dangerous wild animals. | 398 |
| The amounts specified in division (D)(2) of this section | 399 |
| shall be for each occurrence of injury or damage. | 400 |
| Sec. 935.06. (A) Not later than ninety days after receipt of | 401 |
| an application under section 935.05 of the Revised Code, the | 402 |
| director of agriculture shall issue or deny a wildlife shelter | 403 |
| permit. The director shall issue a permit to an applicant only if | 404 |
| all of the following apply: | 405 |
| (1) The applicant is eighteen years of age or older. | 406 |
| (2) The applicant has registered the dangerous wild animal or | 407 |
| animals that are the subject of the application under section | 408 |
| 935.04 of the Revised Code. | 409 |
| (3) The applicant is in compliance with the standards of care | 410 |
| established in rules adopted under division (A)(2) of section | 411 |
| 935.17 of the Revised Code. | 412 |
| (4) The applicant has sterilized each male dangerous wild | 413 |
| animal that is possessed by the applicant. However, a dangerous | 414 |
| wild animal is not required to be sterilized if a veterinarian | 415 |
| that is qualified to provide veterinary care to the dangerous wild | 416 |
| animal determines that the sterilization is medically | 417 |
| contraindicated and the applicant has submitted a copy of the | 418 |
| veterinarian's written determination with the applicant's | 419 |
| application. | 420 |
| (5) The applicant has signed an affidavit attesting that the | 421 |
| applicant will not allow members of the public to be in physical | 422 |
| contact with a dangerous wild animal possessed by the applicant. | 423 |
| Division (A)(5) of this section does not apply to an employee of | 424 |
| the applicant or a volunteer who has entered into a written | 425 |
| agreement with the applicant to work for or volunteer for the | 426 |
| applicant and assists in the care of a dangerous wild animal or | 427 |
| animals specified in division (C)(20) of section 935.01 of the | 428 |
| Revised Code possessed by the applicant if the care is provided | 429 |
| under the direction of the applicant. | 430 |
| (6) The applicant has not been convicted of or pleaded guilty | 431 |
| to a felony drug abuse offense, an offense of violence that is a | 432 |
| felony, or a violation of section 959.13 or 959.131 of the Revised | 433 |
| Code or of section 2927.21 of the Revised Code as that section | 434 |
| existed prior to its repeal by S.B. 310 of the 129th general | 435 |
| assembly, as determined by a criminal records check performed in | 436 |
| accordance with division (B) of this section. | 437 |
| (7) The facility at which a dangerous wild animal or | 438 |
| dangerous wild animals will be maintained under the permit | 439 |
| consists of at least one acre. Division (A)(7) of this section | 440 |
| does not apply to either of the following: | 441 |
| (a) Dangerous wild animals specified in division (C)(20) of | 442 |
| section 935.01 of the Revised Code; | 443 |
| (b) An applicant to whom the director issues a written waiver | 444 |
| stating that the acreage requirement does not apply to the | 445 |
| applicant. | 446 |
| (8) The applicant has signed an affidavit attesting that the | 447 |
| facility at which a dangerous wild animal or dangerous wild | 448 |
| animals will be maintained under the permit and the conditions in | 449 |
| which each dangerous wild animal will be kept in that facility are | 450 |
| in compliance with this chapter and rules. | 451 |
| (9) The applicant has submitted a complete application that | 452 |
| meets the requirements established in section 935.05 of the | 453 |
| Revised Code. | 454 |
| (10) The applicant has submitted the applicable fee under | 455 |
| section 935.05 of the Revised Code. | 456 |
| If a permit is issued, the director shall assign a unique | 457 |
| identification number to the permit. | 458 |
| (B) Prior to issuing or denying a wildlife shelter permit, | 459 |
| the director shall submit a request to the bureau of criminal | 460 |
| identification and investigation in the office of the attorney | 461 |
| general for a criminal records check of the applicant for the | 462 |
| permit. Upon receipt of a request, the superintendent of the | 463 |
| bureau shall conduct a criminal records check in the manner | 464 |
| described in division (B) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code | 465 |
| to determine whether any information exists that indicates that | 466 |
| the applicant previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty | 467 |
| to any of the following: | 468 |
| (1) A felony drug abuse offense; | 469 |
| (2) An offense of violence that is a felony; | 470 |
| (3) A violation of section 959.13 or 959.131 of the Revised | 471 |
| Code or of section 2927.21 of the Revised Code as that section | 472 |
| existed prior to its repeal by S.B. 310 of the 129th general | 473 |
| assembly. | 474 |
| The applicant is responsible for paying all costs associated | 475 |
| with the criminal records check. | 476 |
| (C) If a permit application is denied, two hundred fifty | 477 |
| dollars of the permit application fee shall be retained by the | 478 |
| director as payment for the reasonable expense of processing the | 479 |
| application, and the remainder of the fee shall be returned to the | 480 |
| applicant. | 481 |
| (D) Not later than the first day of December of each year, a | 482 |
| permit holder shall apply to the director, on a form prescribed | 483 |
| and provided by the director, for a renewal of the permit if the | 484 |
| permit holder intends to retain possession of the dangerous wild | 485 |
| animal or animals that are identified in the permit. Not later | 486 |
| than thirty days after receipt of an application for renewal, the | 487 |
| director shall renew or deny the renewal of the permit. The | 488 |
| director shall renew the permit if the permit holder complies with | 489 |
| this chapter and rules and pays a renewal fee in the same amount | 490 |
| as the fee established for the initial permit in section 935.05 of | 491 |
| the Revised Code. If a renewal permit is denied, two hundred fifty | 492 |
| dollars of the renewal fee shall be retained by the director as | 493 |
| payment for the reasonable expense of processing the application, | 494 |
| and the remainder of the renewal fee shall be returned to the | 495 |
| applicant. | 496 |
| (E) If the director denies an application for a permit or a | 497 |
| renewal of a permit, the director shall notify the person of the | 498 |
| denial, the grounds for the denial, and the person's right to an | 499 |
| adjudication under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. | 500 |
| (F) If a person does not appeal the determination of the | 501 |
| director to deny an application for a permit or a renewal of a | 502 |
| permit or if the determination of the director is affirmed under | 503 |
| Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, not later than thirty days after | 504 |
| the decision not to appeal or after the determination is affirmed, | 505 |
| as applicable, the person shall transfer the dangerous wild animal | 506 |
| or animals that the person possesses to a humane society, wildlife | 507 |
| sanctuary, rescue facility, facility that is an accredited member | 508 |
| of either the association of zoos and aquariums or the zoological | 509 |
| association of America, or facility that is located in another | 510 |
| state and that complies with that state's applicable laws. After | 511 |
| the transfer has occurred, the person shall submit proof to the | 512 |
| director that the dangerous wild animal or animals were | 513 |
| transferred and shall specify the society, sanctuary, or facility | 514 |
| to which the animal or animals were transferred. | 515 |
| The person is responsible for all costs associated with the | 516 |
| transfer of the dangerous wild animal or animals. | 517 |
| (G) If a person that has been issued a wildlife shelter | 518 |
| permit under this section or a wildlife propagation permit under | 519 |
| section 935.07 of the Revised Code dies, the person's next of kin | 520 |
| shall do one of the following: | 521 |
| (1) If the next of kin wishes to possess the dangerous wild | 522 |
| animal or animals, obtain a wildlife shelter permit under this | 523 |
| section or a wildlife propagation permit under section 935.07 of | 524 |
| the Revised Code, as applicable. That next of kin shall comply | 525 |
| with this chapter and rules, except that, with respect to the next | 526 |
| of kin's initial permit, the person need not pay the applicable | 527 |
| permit application fee. | 528 |
| (2) If the deceased person has a last will and testament that | 529 |
| specifies that the dangerous wild animal or animals possessed by | 530 |
| the person are to be transferred to another person that has been | 531 |
| issued a wildlife shelter permit, wildlife propagation permit, or | 532 |
| rescue facility permit issued under this chapter, transfer the | 533 |
| dangerous wild animal or animals to the applicable permit holder; | 534 |
| (3) Transfer the dangerous wild animal or animals that were | 535 |
| possessed by the deceased person in accordance with division (F) | 536 |
| of this section. | 537 |
| (H) All fees collected under this section shall be credited | 538 |
| to the dangerous and restricted animal fund created in section | 539 |
| 935.25 of the Revised Code. | 540 |
| Sec. 935.07. (A) A person that possesses a registered | 541 |
| dangerous wild animal in this state on October 1, 2013, that | 542 |
| wishes to continue to possess the dangerous wild animal on and | 543 |
| after January 1, 2014, and that intends to propagate the animal | 544 |
| solely for the purposes of a species survival program that | 545 |
| complies with rules shall apply for a wildlife propagation permit | 546 |
| under this section. An applicant need apply for only one permit | 547 |
| regardless of the number of dangerous wild animals that the | 548 |
| applicant possesses. | 549 |
| (B) Except as otherwise provided in this section, an | 550 |
| applicant for a wildlife propagation permit shall comply with the | 551 |
| requirements and procedures established in sections 935.05 and | 552 |
| 935.06 of the Revised Code. The application fee for a wildlife | 553 |
| propagation permit shall be one of the following, as applicable: | 554 |
| (1) One thousand dollars if the applicant possesses not more | 555 |
| than fifty dangerous wild animals; | 556 |
| (2) Three thousand dollars if the applicant possesses more | 557 |
| than fifty dangerous wild animals. | 558 |
| (C) The facility at which a dangerous wild animal or | 559 |
| dangerous wild animals will be maintained under a wildlife | 560 |
| propagation permit shall consist of at least two acres. Division | 561 |
| (C) of this section does not apply to either of the following: | 562 |
| (1) Dangerous wild animals specified in division (C)(20) of | 563 |
| section 935.01 of the Revised Code; | 564 |
| (2) An applicant to whom the director of agriculture issues a | 565 |
| written waiver stating that the acreage requirement does not apply | 566 |
| to the applicant. | 567 |
| (D) All fees collected under this section shall be credited | 568 |
| to the dangerous and restricted animal fund created in section | 569 |
| 935.25 of the Revised Code. | 570 |
| Sec. 935.08. (A)(1) A person that possesses a restricted | 571 |
| snake in this state prior to January 1, 2014, that wishes to | 572 |
| continue to possess the restricted snake on and after that date, | 573 |
| and that does not intend to propagate, sell, trade, or otherwise | 574 |
| transfer the snake shall obtain a restricted snake possession | 575 |
| permit under this section not later than January 1, 2014. | 576 |
| (2) A person that acquires a restricted snake in this state | 577 |
| on or after January 1, 2014, and that does not intend to | 578 |
| propagate, sell, trade, or otherwise transfer the snake shall | 579 |
| obtain a restricted snake possession permit under this section not | 580 |
| later than one hundred twenty days after acquiring the snake. | 581 |
| (3) An applicant need apply for only one permit regardless of | 582 |
| the number of restricted snakes that the applicant possesses. | 583 |
| (B) An applicant for a restricted snake possession permit | 584 |
| shall file an application for a permit with the director of | 585 |
| agriculture on a form prescribed and provided by the director. The | 586 |
| application shall include all of the following: | 587 |
| (1) The name, date of birth, address, social security number, | 588 |
| and federal employer identification number, if applicable, of the | 589 |
| applicant; | 590 |
| (2) If different from the information provided under division | 591 |
| (B)(1) of this section, the name and address of the location where | 592 |
| each restricted snake will be confined; | 593 |
| (3) A description of each restricted snake, including the | 594 |
| scientific and common names, the name that the applicant has given | 595 |
| the snake, the snake's sex, age, color, and weight, and any | 596 |
| distinguishing marks or coloration that would aid in the | 597 |
| identification of the snake; | 598 |
| (4) Proof of financial responsibility as required in division | 599 |
| (D) of this section; | 600 |
| (5) Except as otherwise provided in this section, proof that | 601 |
| the applicant has at least two years of experience in the care of | 602 |
| the species of restricted snake or snakes that are the subject of | 603 |
| the application. If an applicant cannot provide such proof, the | 604 |
| applicant shall pass a written examination regarding the care of | 605 |
| restricted snakes that is established and administered in | 606 |
| accordance with rules. The requirements of division (B)(5) of this | 607 |
| section do not apply with respect to a restricted snake specified | 608 |
| in division (L)(1) of section 935.01 of the Revised Code. | 609 |
| (6) A plan of action to be undertaken if a restricted snake | 610 |
| escapes; | 611 |
| (7) A written statement from a veterinarian stating that the | 612 |
| veterinarian is willing to provide veterinary care to an | 613 |
| applicant's restricted snake or snakes when the care is needed; | 614 |
| (8) Any additional information required in rules. | 615 |
| An applicant shall submit a copy of the plan of action | 616 |
| required in division (B)(6) of this section to the sheriff of the | 617 |
| county and to the chief law enforcement officer and fire chief of | 618 |
| the township or municipal corporation having jurisdiction where | 619 |
| the restricted snake or snakes are confined. | 620 |
| (C) An applicant shall submit a fee of one hundred fifty | 621 |
| dollars with an application. | 622 |
| (D)(1) Except as provided in division (D)(3) of this section, | 623 |
| an applicant shall obtain and maintain proof of financial | 624 |
| responsibility in one of the following forms: | 625 |
| (a) A liability insurance policy with an insurer authorized | 626 |
| or approved to write such insurance in this state that covers | 627 |
| claims for injury or damage to persons or property caused by a | 628 |
| restricted snake possessed by the applicant or any resulting | 629 |
| claims against the state; | 630 |
| (b) A surety bond, which shall be executed by a surety | 631 |
| company authorized to do business in this state that covers claims | 632 |
| for injury or damage to persons or property caused by a restricted | 633 |
| snake possessed by the applicant or any resulting claims against | 634 |
| the state. The bond shall be in a form approved by the director of | 635 |
| agriculture. | 636 |
| (2) Proof of financial responsibility shall be in one of the | 637 |
| following amounts, as applicable: | 638 |
| (a) One hundred thousand dollars if the applicant possesses | 639 |
| not more than five restricted snakes; | 640 |
| (b) Two hundred fifty thousand dollars if the applicant | 641 |
| possesses at least six, but not more than fifteen restricted | 642 |
| snakes; | 643 |
| (c) Five hundred thousand dollars if the applicant possesses | 644 |
| sixteen or more restricted snakes. | 645 |
| The amounts specified in division (D)(2) of this section | 646 |
| shall be for each occurrence of injury or damage. | 647 |
| (3) Division (D)(1) of this section does not apply to an | 648 |
| applicant that possesses one or more restricted snakes specified | 649 |
| in division (L)(1) of section 935.01 of the Revised Code, but no | 650 |
| other restricted snakes. | 651 |
| Sec. 935.09. (A) Not later than ninety days after receipt of | 652 |
| an application under section 935.08 of the Revised Code, the | 653 |
| director of agriculture shall issue or deny a restricted snake | 654 |
| possession permit. The director shall issue a permit to an | 655 |
| applicant only if all of the following apply: | 656 |
| (1) The applicant is eighteen years of age or older. | 657 |
| (2) The applicant has signed an affidavit attesting that the | 658 |
| applicant will not allow members of the public to be in physical | 659 |
| contact with a restricted snake possessed by the applicant. | 660 |
| Division (A)(2) of this section does not apply to either of the | 661 |
| following: | 662 |
| (a) An applicant that displays a restricted snake or snakes | 663 |
| specified in division (L)(1) of section 935.01 of the Revised Code | 664 |
| to a primary or secondary school age student; | 665 |
| (b) An employee of the applicant or a volunteer who has | 666 |
| entered into a written agreement with the applicant to work for or | 667 |
| volunteer for the applicant and assists in the care of a | 668 |
| restricted snake or snakes possessed by the applicant if the care | 669 |
| is provided under the direction of the applicant. | 670 |
| (3) The applicant has not been convicted of or pleaded guilty | 671 |
| to a felony drug abuse offense, an offense of violence that is a | 672 |
| felony, or a violation of section 959.13 or 959.131 of the Revised | 673 |
| Code or of section 2927.21 of the Revised Code as that section | 674 |
| existed prior to its repeal by S.B. 310 of the 129th general | 675 |
| assembly, as determined by a criminal records check performed in | 676 |
| accordance with division (B) of this section. | 677 |
| (4) The applicant has signed an affidavit attesting that the | 678 |
| facility at which a restricted snake or snakes will be maintained | 679 |
| under the permit and the conditions in which each restricted snake | 680 |
| will be kept in that facility are in compliance with this chapter | 681 |
| and rules. | 682 |
| (5) The applicant has submitted a complete application that | 683 |
| meets the requirements established in section 935.08 of the | 684 |
| Revised Code. | 685 |
| (6) The applicant has submitted the application fee | 686 |
| established in section 935.08 of the Revised Code. | 687 |
| If a permit is issued, the director shall assign a unique | 688 |
| identification number to the permit. | 689 |
| (B) Prior to issuing or denying a restricted snake possession | 690 |
| permit, the director shall submit a request to the bureau of | 691 |
| criminal identification and investigation in the office of the | 692 |
| attorney general for a criminal records check of the applicant for | 693 |
| the permit. Upon receipt of a request, the superintendent of the | 694 |
| bureau shall conduct a criminal records check in the manner | 695 |
| described in division (B) of section 109.572 of the Revised Code | 696 |
| to determine whether any information exists that indicates that | 697 |
| the applicant previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty | 698 |
| to any of the following: | 699 |
| (1) A felony drug abuse offense; | 700 |
| (2) An offense of violence that is a felony; | 701 |
| (3) A violation of section 959.13 or 959.131 of the Revised | 702 |
| Code or of section 2927.21 of the Revised Code as that section | 703 |
| existed prior to its repeal by S.B. 310 of the 129th general | 704 |
| assembly. | 705 |
| The applicant is responsible for paying all costs associated | 706 |
| with the criminal records check. | 707 |
| (C) If a permit application is denied, seventy-five dollars | 708 |
| of the permit application fee shall be retained by the director as | 709 |
| payment for the reasonable expense of processing the application, | 710 |
| and the remainder of the fee shall be returned to the applicant. | 711 |
| (D) Not later than the first day of December of each year, a | 712 |
| permit holder shall apply to the director, on a form prescribed | 713 |
| and provided by the director, for a renewal of the permit if the | 714 |
| permit holder intends to retain possession of the restricted snake | 715 |
| or snakes that are identified in the permit. Not later than thirty | 716 |
| days after receipt of an application for renewal, the director | 717 |
| shall renew or deny the renewal of the permit. The director shall | 718 |
| renew the permit if the permit holder complies with this chapter | 719 |
| and rules and pays a renewal fee in the same amount as the fee | 720 |
| established for the initial permit in section 935.08 of the | 721 |
| Revised Code. If a renewal permit is denied, seventy-five dollars | 722 |
| of the renewal fee shall be retained by the director as payment | 723 |
| for the reasonable expense of processing the application, and the | 724 |
| remainder of the renewal fee shall be returned to the applicant. | 725 |
| (E) If the director denies an application for a permit or a | 726 |
| renewal of a permit, the director shall notify the person of the | 727 |
| denial, the grounds for the denial, and the person's right to an | 728 |
| adjudication under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. | 729 |
| (F) If a person does not appeal the determination of the | 730 |
| director to deny an application for a permit or a renewal of a | 731 |
| permit or if the determination of the director is affirmed under | 732 |
| Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, not later than thirty days after | 733 |
| the decision not to appeal or after the determination is affirmed, | 734 |
| as applicable, the person shall transfer the restricted snake or | 735 |
| snakes that the person possesses to a humane society, wildlife | 736 |
| sanctuary, facility that is an accredited member of either the | 737 |
| association of zoos and aquariums or the zoological association of | 738 |
| America, or facility that is located in another state and that | 739 |
| complies with that state's applicable laws. After the transfer has | 740 |
| occurred, the person shall submit proof to the director that the | 741 |
| restricted snake or snakes were transferred and shall specify the | 742 |
| society, sanctuary, or facility to which the snake or snakes were | 743 |
| transferred. | 744 |
| The person is responsible for all costs associated with the | 745 |
| transfer of the restricted snake or snakes. | 746 |
| (G) If a person that has been issued a restricted snake | 747 |
| possession permit under this section or a restricted snake | 748 |
| propagation permit under section 935.10 of the Revised Code dies, | 749 |
| the person's next of kin shall do one of the following: | 750 |
| (1) If the next of kin wishes to possess the restricted snake | 751 |
| or snakes, obtain a restricted snake possession permit under this | 752 |
| section or a restricted snake propagation permit under section | 753 |
| 935.10 of the Revised Code, as applicable. That next of kin shall | 754 |
| comply with this chapter and rules, except that, with respect to | 755 |
| the next of kin's initial permit, the person need not pay the | 756 |
| applicable permit application fee. | 757 |
| (2) If the deceased person has a last will and testament that | 758 |
| specifies that the restricted snake or snakes possessed by the | 759 |
| person are to be transferred to another person that has been | 760 |
| issued a restricted snake possession permit under this section or | 761 |
| a restricted snake propagation permit issued under section 935.10 | 762 |
| of the Revised Code, transfer the restricted snake or snakes to | 763 |
| the applicable permit holder; | 764 |
| (3) Transfer the restricted snake or snakes that were | 765 |
| possessed by the deceased person in accordance with division (F) | 766 |
| of this section. | 767 |
| (H) All fees collected under this section shall be credited | 768 |
| to the dangerous and restricted animal fund created in section | 769 |
| 935.25 of the Revised Code. | 770 |
| Sec. 935.10. (A)(1) A person that possesses a restricted | 771 |
| snake in this state prior to January 1, 2014, that wishes to | 772 |
| continue to possess the restricted snake on and after that date, | 773 |
| and that intends to propagate, sell, trade, or otherwise transfer | 774 |
| the snake shall obtain a restricted snake propagation permit under | 775 |
| this section not later than January 1, 2014. | 776 |
| (2) A person that acquires a restricted snake in this state | 777 |
| on or after January 1, 2014, and that intends to propagate, sell, | 778 |
| trade, or otherwise transfer the snake shall obtain a restricted | 779 |
| snake propagation permit under this section not later than one | 780 |
| hundred twenty days after acquiring the snake. | 781 |
| (3) An applicant need apply for only one permit regardless of | 782 |
| the number of restricted snakes that the applicant possesses. | 783 |
| (B) Except as otherwise provided in this section, an | 784 |
| applicant for a restricted snake propagation permit shall comply | 785 |
| with the requirements and procedures established in sections | 786 |
| 935.08 and 935.09 of the Revised Code. The application fee for a | 787 |
| restricted snake propagation permit shall be three hundred | 788 |
| dollars. | 789 |
| (C) If a permit application is denied, one hundred fifty | 790 |
| dollars of the permit application fee shall be retained by the | 791 |
| director of agriculture as payment for the reasonable expense of | 792 |
| processing the application, and the remainder of the fee shall be | 793 |
| returned to the applicant. | 794 |
| (D) All fees collected under this section shall be credited | 795 |
| to the dangerous and restricted animal fund created in section | 796 |
| 935.25 of the Revised Code. | 797 |
| Sec. 935.101. (A)(1) In lieu of obtaining any other permit | 798 |
| under this chapter, a person that operates a rescue facility in | 799 |
| this state prior to January 1, 2014, and that wishes to continue | 800 |
| to operate a rescue facility on and after that date shall obtain a | 801 |
| rescue facility permit under this section not later than January | 802 |
| 1, 2014. | 803 |
| (2) A person that wishes to begin operation of a rescue | 804 |
| facility in this state on or after January 1, 2014, shall obtain a | 805 |
| rescue facility permit under this section not later than sixty | 806 |
| days prior to beginning operation. | 807 |
| (B)(1) An applicant for a rescue facility permit shall file | 808 |
| an application for a permit with the director of agriculture on a | 809 |
| form prescribed and provided by the director. The application | 810 |
| shall include information that the director requires in rules. | 811 |
| (2) An applicant for a rescue facility permit shall submit | 812 |
| one of the following fees, as applicable, with an application: | 813 |
| (a) Five hundred dollars if the applicant possesses not more | 814 |
| than three dangerous wild animals; | 815 |
| (b) One thousand dollars if the applicant possesses at least | 816 |
| four, but not more than fifteen dangerous wild animals; | 817 |
| (c) Two thousand dollars if the applicant possesses sixteen | 818 |
| or more dangerous wild animals. | 819 |
| (3) If a permit application is denied, two hundred fifty | 820 |
| dollars of the application fee shall be retained by the director | 821 |
| as payment for the reasonable expense of processing the | 822 |
| application and the remainder of the fee shall be returned to the | 823 |
| applicant. | 824 |
| (C) The director shall issue or deny a rescue facility permit | 825 |
| in accordance with rules. The director shall issue a rescue | 826 |
| facility permit only if the dangerous wild animal or animals that | 827 |
| are or are to be possessed by an applicant are sterilized. | 828 |
| (D) A person that has been issued a rescue facility permit | 829 |
| under this section shall comply with the requirements regarding | 830 |
| the care and housing of dangerous wild animals established in | 831 |
| rules adopted under division (G) of section 935.17 of the Revised | 832 |
| Code. | 833 |
| (E) A person that has been issued a rescue facility permit | 834 |
| under this section may acquire, except by purchase, possession or | 835 |
| ownership of a dangerous wild animal. | 836 |
| Sec. 935.11. (A) A person that possesses at least one | 837 |
| dangerous wild animal and at least one restricted snake shall | 838 |
| apply for both a wildlife shelter permit issued under section | 839 |
| 935.06 of the Revised Code and a restricted snake possession | 840 |
| permit issued under section 935.09 of the Revised Code. | 841 |
| (B) A person that possesses at least one dangerous wild | 842 |
| animal and that intends to propagate the animal solely for the | 843 |
| purposes of a species survival program that complies with rules | 844 |
| and that possesses at least one restricted snake and that intends | 845 |
| to propagate, sell, trade, or otherwise transfer the snake shall | 846 |
| apply for both a wildlife propagation permit issued under section | 847 |
| 935.07 of the Revised Code and a restricted snake propagation | 848 |
| permit issued under section 935.10 of the Revised Code. | 849 |
| (C) A person that possesses at least one dangerous wild | 850 |
| animal and does not intend to propagate the animal and that | 851 |
| possesses at least one restricted snake and intends to propagate, | 852 |
| sell, trade, or otherwise transfer the snake shall apply for both | 853 |
| a wildlife shelter permit issued under section 935.06 of the | 854 |
| Revised Code and a restricted snake propagation permit issued | 855 |
| under section 935.10 of the Revised Code. | 856 |
| (D) A person that possesses at least one dangerous wild | 857 |
| animal and that intends to propagate the animal solely for the | 858 |
| purposes of a species survival program that complies with rules | 859 |
| and that possesses at least one restricted snake and does not | 860 |
| intend to propagate, sell, trade, or otherwise transfer the snake | 861 |
| shall apply for both a wildlife propagation permit issued under | 862 |
| section 935.07 of the Revised Code and a restricted snake | 863 |
| possession permit issued under section 935.09 of the Revised Code. | 864 |
| Sec. 935.12. (A) Except as provided in division (B) of this | 865 |
| section, a person that has been issued a permit under this chapter | 866 |
| for a dangerous wild animal or animals shall comply with the | 867 |
| requirements regarding the care and housing of dangerous wild | 868 |
| animals established in rules. | 869 |
| (B) A person that has been issued a wildlife shelter, | 870 |
| wildlife propagation permit, or rescue facility permit under this | 871 |
| chapter for a dangerous wild animal or animals specified in | 872 |
| division (C)(20) of section 935.01 of the Revised Code shall | 873 |
| comply with both of the following: | 874 |
| (1) The requirements regarding the care of those animals | 875 |
| established in regulations adopted under the federal animal | 876 |
| welfare act; | 877 |
| (2) The requirements regarding the housing of those animals | 878 |
| established in rules. | 879 |
| (C) A person that has been issued a restricted snake | 880 |
| possession or restricted snake propagation permit under this | 881 |
| chapter shall comply with the requirements regarding the care and | 882 |
| housing of those snakes established in standards adopted by the | 883 |
| zoological association of America. | 884 |
| Sec. 935.13. The director of agriculture may suspend or | 885 |
| revoke a permit issued under this chapter for a violation of this | 886 |
| chapter or rules. A person adversely affected by an order of | 887 |
| suspension or revocation may request an adjudication under Chapter | 888 |
| 119. of the Revised Code. | 889 |
| Sec. 935.14. (A) The director of agriculture shall maintain a | 890 |
| database of both of the following: | 891 |
| (1) Until January 1, 2014, the name and address of each | 892 |
| person that possesses a dangerous wild animal and registers the | 893 |
| animal under section 935.04 of the Revised Code; | 894 |
| (2) On and after January 1, 2014, the name and address of | 895 |
| each person that has applied for and been issued a permit under | 896 |
| this chapter. | 897 |
| (B) The director shall allow the directors of health and | 898 |
| natural resources to have access to the database. | 899 |
| Sec. 935.15. (A) A person that has been issued a permit | 900 |
| under this chapter shall maintain records of all of the following | 901 |
| regarding each dangerous wild animal and each restricted snake | 902 |
| that the permit holder possesses: | 903 |
| (1) The scientific and common names of the animal or snake, | 904 |
| including the species; | 905 |
| (2) If the animal or snake was purchased or otherwise | 906 |
| acquired from another person, the name and address of the other | 907 |
| person; | 908 |
| (3) The date on which the animal or snake was acquired, if | 909 |
| applicable; | 910 |
| (4) If the permit holder propagates dangerous wild animals, | 911 |
| the date of birth of the animal if the animal was propagated by | 912 |
| the permit holder; | 913 |
| (5) If the permit holder propagates restricted snakes, the | 914 |
| date of birth of the snake if the snake was propagated by the | 915 |
| permit holder; | 916 |
| (6) The name and address of the person to whom the animal or | 917 |
| snake was sold or otherwise transferred, if applicable; | 918 |
| (7) The date on which the animal or snake died or escaped, if | 919 |
| applicable; | 920 |
| (8) The identification number of the microchip that is | 921 |
| implanted in the animal and the frequency of the passive | 922 |
| integrated transponder contained in the microchip as required in | 923 |
| section 935.04 of the Revised Code. | 924 |
| (B) A permit holder shall maintain the records in accordance | 925 |
| with rules. | 926 |
| Sec. 935.16. (A) If a dangerous wild animal or restricted | 927 |
| snake escapes, the person that possesses the animal or snake | 928 |
| immediately shall notify both of the following: | 929 |
| (1) The sheriff of the county and the chief law enforcement | 930 |
| officer of the township or municipal corporation where the escape | 931 |
| occurred; | 932 |
| (2) The division of animal health in the department of | 933 |
| agriculture by means of the twenty-four-hour telephone number that | 934 |
| is maintained by the division. | 935 |
| (B)(1) A law enforcement officer or natural resources law | 936 |
| enforcement officer may destroy a dangerous wild animal or | 937 |
| restricted snake that has escaped and that poses a threat to | 938 |
| public safety. | 939 |
| (2) A law enforcement officer or natural resources law | 940 |
| enforcement officer that destroys an escaped dangerous wild animal | 941 |
| or restricted snake pursuant to division (B)(1) of this section is | 942 |
| not liable for damages in a civil action for any injury, death, or | 943 |
| loss to person or property that allegedly arises from the | 944 |
| destruction of the animal or snake. | 945 |
| (C) The person that possesses a dangerous wild animal or | 946 |
| restricted snake that escapes is responsible for all reasonable | 947 |
| costs associated with the capture or destruction of the animal or | 948 |
| snake. The person shall reimburse the political subdivision that | 949 |
| employs the law enforcement officer who captured or destroyed the | 950 |
| dangerous wild animal or restricted snake for the costs incurred | 951 |
| in capturing or destroying the animal or snake. However, if the | 952 |
| law enforcement officer is a state highway patrol trooper or if a | 953 |
| natural resources law enforcement officer captured or destroyed | 954 |
| the dangerous wild animal or restricted snake, the person shall | 955 |
| reimburse the state highway patrol or department of natural | 956 |
| resources, as applicable, for those costs. | 957 |
| (D)(1) Except as provided in division (D)(2) of this section, | 958 |
| money collected under division (C) of this section shall be | 959 |
| credited to a special fund, which is hereby created in the | 960 |
| applicable political subdivision. Money in the special fund shall | 961 |
| be used exclusively for the administration and enforcement of this | 962 |
| chapter and rules. | 963 |
| (2) Money collected under division (C) of this section for | 964 |
| costs incurred by a state highway patrol trooper or a natural | 965 |
| resources law enforcement officer under this section shall be | 966 |
| deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the dangerous and | 967 |
| restricted animal fund created in section 935.25 of the Revised | 968 |
| Code. | 969 |
| (3) If law enforcement officers from more than one | 970 |
| jurisdiction assist in the capture or destruction of a dangerous | 971 |
| wild animal or restricted snake, the money collected shall be | 972 |
| proportionally distributed to each political subdivision's special | 973 |
| fund and the dangerous and restricted animal fund, if applicable. | 974 |
| Sec. 935.17. The director of agriculture shall adopt rules | 975 |
| in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code that establish | 976 |
| all of the following: | 977 |
| (A) Both of the following concerning the registration of | 978 |
| dangerous wild animals under section 935.04 of the Revised Code: | 979 |
| (1) Any additional information that must be included with a | 980 |
| registration; | 981 |
| (2) Standards for the care and housing of registered | 982 |
| dangerous wild animals, including standards for the proper care of | 983 |
| each species of dangerous wild animal and caging and fencing of | 984 |
| the animals. | 985 |
| The director shall adopt rules under division (A) of this | 986 |
| section not later than ninety days after the effective date of | 987 |
| this section. | 988 |
| (B) Standards for the care and well-being of dangerous wild | 989 |
| animals specified in divisions (C)(1) to (19) of section 935.01 of | 990 |
| the Revised Code that are possessed by the holders of wildlife | 991 |
| shelter permits and wildlife propagation permits issued under this | 992 |
| chapter. The standards shall govern at least sanitation for, | 993 |
| provision of health care for, and feeding, caging, housing, and | 994 |
| fencing of dangerous wild animals. In adopting rules under this | 995 |
| division, the director shall consider the following factors: | 996 |
| (1) Best management practices for the care and well-being of | 997 |
| dangerous wild animals; | 998 |
| (2) Public health and safety; | 999 |
| (3) Biosecurity; | 1000 |
| (4) The prevention of disease; | 1001 |
| (5) Animal morbidity and mortality data; | 1002 |
| (6) Generally accepted veterinary medical practices; | 1003 |
| (7) Standards adopted by the association of zoos and | 1004 |
| aquariums; | 1005 |
| (8) Standards adopted by the zoological association of | 1006 |
| America; | 1007 |
| (9) Standards established in the federal animal welfare act; | 1008 |
| (10) Ethical standards established by the American veterinary | 1009 |
| medical association; | 1010 |
| (11) Any other factors that the director considers necessary | 1011 |
| for the proper care and well-being of dangerous wild animals in | 1012 |
| this state. | 1013 |
| (C) Standards for the housing of dangerous wild animals | 1014 |
| specified in division (C)(20) of section 935.01 of the Revised | 1015 |
| Code that are possessed by the holders of wildlife shelter permits | 1016 |
| and wildlife propagation permits issued under this chapter; | 1017 |
| (D) All of the following concerning applications for permits | 1018 |
| issued under sections 935.06 and 935.07 of the Revised Code: | 1019 |
| (1) Any additional information that must be included with a | 1020 |
| permit application; | 1021 |
| (2) Criteria for determining what constitutes a species | 1022 |
| survival program for the purposes of division (A) of section | 1023 |
| 935.07 of the Revised Code and requirements and procedures that | 1024 |
| are necessary to determine if a program meets those criteria; | 1025 |
| (3) The content of the examination specified in division | 1026 |
| (B)(6) of section 935.05 of the Revised Code. The rules shall | 1027 |
| require the examination to test an applicant's knowledge on topics | 1028 |
| that include proper diet, health care, exercise needs, and housing | 1029 |
| of the species of dangerous wild animal or animals that are the | 1030 |
| subject of the application. | 1031 |
| (4) Procedures and requirements concerning the administration | 1032 |
| of the examination specified in division (B)(6) of section 935.05 | 1033 |
| of the Revised Code. | 1034 |
| (E) All of the following concerning applications for permits | 1035 |
| issued under sections 935.09 and 935.10 of the Revised Code: | 1036 |
| (1) Any additional information that must be included with a | 1037 |
| permit application; | 1038 |
| (2) The content of the examination specified in division | 1039 |
| (B)(5) of section 935.08 of the Revised Code. The rules shall | 1040 |
| require the examination to test an applicant's knowledge on topics | 1041 |
| that include proper diet, health care, and housing of the species | 1042 |
| of restricted snake or snakes that are the subject of the | 1043 |
| application. | 1044 |
| (3) Procedures and requirements concerning the administration | 1045 |
| of the examination specified in division (B)(5) of section 935.08 | 1046 |
| of the Revised Code. | 1047 |
| (F) Both of the following concerning applications for permits | 1048 |
| issued under section 935.101 of the Revised Code: | 1049 |
| (1) Information that must be included in a permit | 1050 |
| application; | 1051 |
| (2) Criteria and procedures for the issuance or denial of a | 1052 |
| permit. | 1053 |
| (G) Standards for the care and well-being of dangerous wild | 1054 |
| animals that are possessed by the holders of permits issued under | 1055 |
| section 935.101 of the Revised Code. The standards shall govern at | 1056 |
| least sanitation for, provision of health care for, and feeding, | 1057 |
| caging, housing, and fencing of dangerous wild animals. In | 1058 |
| adopting the rules, the director may consider the standards of | 1059 |
| care and housing established in rules adopted under division (B) | 1060 |
| of this section and section 935.12 of the Revised Code. | 1061 |
| (H) Procedures and requirements governing the maintenance of | 1062 |
| records under section 935.15 of the Revised Code; | 1063 |
| (I) Standards for signs that are required to be posted and | 1064 |
| displayed in accordance with section 935.18 of the Revised Code; | 1065 |
| (J) The amount of civil penalties that may be assessed under | 1066 |
| section 935.24 of the Revised Code; | 1067 |
| (K) Procedures and requirements governing the distribution of | 1068 |
| money under division (B)(4) of section 935.25 of the Revised Code | 1069 |
| from the dangerous and restricted animal fund created in that | 1070 |
| section; | 1071 |
| (L) Any other provisions necessary to administer and enforce | 1072 |
| this chapter. | 1073 |
| Sec. 935.18. (A) Except for a restricted snake specified in | 1074 |
| division (L)(1) of section 935.01 of the Revised Code, no person | 1075 |
| shall sell or offer for sale at auction a dangerous wild animal or | 1076 |
| restricted snake. | 1077 |
| (B) Except for a microchip removed for purposes of a medical | 1078 |
| emergency by a veterinarian that is qualified to provide | 1079 |
| veterinary care to the dangerous wild animal, no person shall | 1080 |
| knowingly remove a microchip that is implanted in a dangerous wild | 1081 |
| animal as required in section 935.04 of the Revised Code. | 1082 |
| (C) No person that possesses a dangerous wild animal or | 1083 |
| restricted snake shall fail to post and display any of the | 1084 |
| following: | 1085 |
| (1) On each cage in which a dangerous wild animal is | 1086 |
| confined, signs warning the public that a dangerous wild animal is | 1087 |
| confined in the cage; | 1088 |
| (2) At each entrance to the property where a dangerous wild | 1089 |
| animal is confined, a sign warning the public that a dangerous | 1090 |
| wild animal is on the property; | 1091 |
| (3) On each container in which a restricted snake is | 1092 |
| confined, a sign warning the public that a restricted snake is in | 1093 |
| the container; | 1094 |
| (4) At the main entrance to each structure where a restricted | 1095 |
| snake is confined, a sign warning the public that a restricted | 1096 |
| snake is in the structure; | 1097 |
| (5) On a vehicle that is used to transport a dangerous wild | 1098 |
| animal or restricted snake, a sign warning that a dangerous wild | 1099 |
| animal or restricted snake, as applicable, is in the vehicle. | 1100 |
| The signs shall comply with standards established in rules. | 1101 |
| (D) No person shall knowingly release a dangerous wild animal | 1102 |
| or restricted snake into the wild. | 1103 |
| (E) No person shall allow a dangerous wild animal or | 1104 |
| restricted snake to roam off the property where it is confined. | 1105 |
| (F) No person shall remove any teeth or claws from a | 1106 |
| dangerous wild animal or restricted snake, as applicable, unless | 1107 |
| determined to be medically necessary by a veterinarian. | 1108 |
| (G) No person shall violate any other provisions of this | 1109 |
| chapter or rules. | 1110 |
| Sec. 935.19. (A)(1) The director of agriculture or the | 1111 |
| director's designee may enter at all reasonable times any premises | 1112 |
| at which a dangerous wild animal or restricted snake is confined, | 1113 |
| with the consent of the owner of the premises, for the purpose of | 1114 |
| determining compliance with this chapter and rules. | 1115 |
| (2) If the director or the director's designee is denied | 1116 |
| access to any such premises, and if the director reasonably | 1117 |
| suspects that the person who possesses the dangerous wild animal | 1118 |
| or restricted snake is not in compliance with this chapter or | 1119 |
| rules, the director may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction | 1120 |
| in the county in which the premises is located for a search | 1121 |
| warrant authorizing access to the premises for the purposes of | 1122 |
| this section. | 1123 |
| (3) The court shall issue the search warrant for the purposes | 1124 |
| requested if there is probable cause to believe that the person is | 1125 |
| not in compliance with this chapter or rules. The finding of | 1126 |
| probable cause may be based on hearsay, provided that there is a | 1127 |
| substantial basis for believing that the source of the hearsay is | 1128 |
| credible and that there is a factual basis for the information | 1129 |
| furnished. | 1130 |
| (B) The director may designate any of the following to | 1131 |
| conduct inspections under this section: | 1132 |
| (1) Employees of the department of agriculture; | 1133 |
| (2) Natural resources law enforcement officers with the | 1134 |
| consent of the director of natural resources; | 1135 |
| (3) Employees of the department of health with the consent of | 1136 |
| the director of health; | 1137 |
| (4) Employees of a board of health with the consent of the | 1138 |
| board; | 1139 |
| (5) Agents of a humane society appointed under section | 1140 |
| 1717.06 of the Revised Code with the consent of the humane | 1141 |
| society. | 1142 |
| (C) If a person designated under division (B) of this section | 1143 |
| determines, while conducting an inspection, that a violation of | 1144 |
| this chapter or rules has occurred, is occurring, or may occur, | 1145 |
| the person shall immediately notify the director of agriculture. | 1146 |
| The director may proceed as provided in section 935.24 of the | 1147 |
| Revised Code. | 1148 |
| Sec. 935.20. (A) On and after January 1, 2014, the director | 1149 |
| of agriculture immediately shall cause an investigation to be | 1150 |
| conducted if the director has reason to believe that one of the | 1151 |
| following may be occurring: | 1152 |
| (1) A dangerous wild animal is possessed by a person who has | 1153 |
| not been issued a wildlife shelter permit, wildlife propagation | 1154 |
| permit, or rescue facility permit under this chapter. | 1155 |
| (2) A restricted snake is possessed by a person that has not | 1156 |
| been issued a restricted snake possession permit or restricted | 1157 |
| snake propagation permit under this chapter. | 1158 |
| (3) A dangerous wild animal or restricted snake is being | 1159 |
| treated or kept in a manner that is in violation of this chapter | 1160 |
| or rules. | 1161 |
| For purposes of the investigation, the director or the | 1162 |
| director's designee may order the animal or snake that is the | 1163 |
| subject of the notification to be quarantined or may order the | 1164 |
| transfer of the animal or snake to a facility that is on the list | 1165 |
| maintained by the director under this section. If the director's | 1166 |
| designee orders the animal or snake to be quarantined or | 1167 |
| transferred, the designee shall provide a copy of the order to the | 1168 |
| director. | 1169 |
| (B) The director shall attempt to notify the person owning or | 1170 |
| possessing an animal or snake that has been ordered to be | 1171 |
| quarantined or transferred under division (A) of this section. The | 1172 |
| notice shall be delivered in person or by certified mail. The | 1173 |
| director also may post a copy of a quarantine order at two | 1174 |
| conspicuous locations on the premises where the animal or snake is | 1175 |
| quarantined. The director shall maintain a copy of an order issued | 1176 |
| under this section and evidence that the director attempted to | 1177 |
| notify the person owning or possessing the animal or snake. | 1178 |
| (C) A quarantine or transfer order issued under this section | 1179 |
| shall contain all of the following: | 1180 |
| (1) The name and address of the person owning or possessing | 1181 |
| the animal or snake, if known; | 1182 |
| (2) A description of the quarantined or transferred animal or | 1183 |
| snake; | 1184 |
| (3) A description of the premises affected by the quarantine | 1185 |
| or transfer; | 1186 |
| (4) The reason for the quarantine or transfer; | 1187 |
| (5) Any terms and conditions of the quarantine or transfer; | 1188 |
| (6) A notice that a person adversely affected by the order | 1189 |
| may request a hearing to review the order. | 1190 |
| (D) A person that is adversely affected by a quarantine or | 1191 |
| transfer order pertaining to a dangerous wild animal or restricted | 1192 |
| snake owned or possessed by the person, within thirty days after | 1193 |
| the order is issued, may request in writing an adjudication in | 1194 |
| accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. A request for an | 1195 |
| adjudication does not stay a quarantine or transfer order. | 1196 |
| (E) The owner of or person possessing a dangerous wild animal | 1197 |
| or restricted snake that was quarantined or transferred under | 1198 |
| division (A) of this section shall be responsible for all | 1199 |
| reasonable costs associated with the quarantine or transfer, | 1200 |
| including the costs of transportation, housing, food, and | 1201 |
| veterinary care for the animal or snake. If such an owner or | 1202 |
| person is unable to pay for the reasonable costs, the director | 1203 |
| shall certify the costs to the county auditor to be assessed | 1204 |
| against any property of the owner or person and thereby made a | 1205 |
| lien upon it and collected as other taxes. All money from the | 1206 |
| collection of liens under this division shall be credited in | 1207 |
| accordance with division (J) of this section. | 1208 |
| (F) If the state veterinarian determines that a dangerous | 1209 |
| wild animal or restricted snake that was quarantined or | 1210 |
| transferred under division (A) of this section is infected with or | 1211 |
| exposed to a dangerously contagious or infectious disease or is | 1212 |
| seriously injured, the state veterinarian shall so notify the | 1213 |
| director. The director may order the animal or snake to be | 1214 |
| humanely euthanized by a veterinarian if the state veterinarian | 1215 |
| has indicated that euthanization is medically necessary. | 1216 |
| (G) A quarantine or transfer order issued under this section | 1217 |
| shall remain in effect until one of the following occurs: | 1218 |
| (1) The director, after reviewing the results of the | 1219 |
| investigation conducted under division (A) of this section, issues | 1220 |
| a written notice of release. | 1221 |
| (2) A court of competent jurisdiction orders the quarantine | 1222 |
| or transfer order to be terminated in a proceeding conducted under | 1223 |
| division (H) of this section. | 1224 |
| (3) A court of competent jurisdiction orders the seizure of | 1225 |
| the dangerous wild animal or restricted snake in a proceeding | 1226 |
| conducted under division (H) of this section. | 1227 |
| (H) If, after reviewing the results of an investigation | 1228 |
| concerning a dangerous wild animal or restricted snake conducted | 1229 |
| under division (A) of this section and after resolution of any | 1230 |
| proceeding conducted under division (D) of this section, the | 1231 |
| director determines that a circumstance described in division | 1232 |
| (A)(1), (2), or (3) of this section is or was occurring, the | 1233 |
| director shall initiate, in a court of competent jurisdiction, a | 1234 |
| proceeding for the permanent seizure of the animal or snake, as | 1235 |
| applicable. If the court affirms the director's determination that | 1236 |
| a circumstance described in division (A)(1), (2), or (3) of this | 1237 |
| section is or was occurring, the court shall order the animal or | 1238 |
| snake seized and shall order the method of disposition of the | 1239 |
| animal or snake. The court may order the person owning or | 1240 |
| possessing the animal or snake to pay all reasonable costs | 1241 |
| associated with the seizure and, if applicable, the costs | 1242 |
| associated with the quarantine or transfer of the animal or snake, | 1243 |
| including the costs of transportation, housing, food, and | 1244 |
| veterinary care of the animal or snake. If the court does not | 1245 |
| affirm the director's determination, the court shall order the | 1246 |
| quarantine or transfer order to be terminated and the animal or | 1247 |
| snake to be returned to the person owning or possessing it, if | 1248 |
| applicable. | 1249 |
| (I) The director may authorize any of the following to | 1250 |
| conduct an investigation and order the quarantine or transfer of a | 1251 |
| dangerous wild animal or restricted snake under division (A) of | 1252 |
| this section: | 1253 |
| (1) Employees of the department of agriculture; | 1254 |
| (2) Natural resources law enforcement officers with the | 1255 |
| consent of the director of natural resources; | 1256 |
| (3) Employees of the department of health with the consent of | 1257 |
| the director of health; | 1258 |
| (4) Employees of a board of health with the consent of the | 1259 |
| board; | 1260 |
| (5) Agents of a humane society appointed under section | 1261 |
| 1717.06 of the Revised Code with the consent of the humane | 1262 |
| society; | 1263 |
| (6) Law enforcement officers with the consent of the sheriff | 1264 |
| of the county or the chief law enforcement officer of the township | 1265 |
| or municipal corporation, as applicable, by whom the law | 1266 |
| enforcement officers are employed; | 1267 |
| (7) Law enforcement officers who are state highway patrol | 1268 |
| troopers with the consent of the superintendent of the state | 1269 |
| highway patrol. | 1270 |
| (J) Money collected for reimbursement of costs associated | 1271 |
| with the quarantine or transfer of dangerous wild animals and | 1272 |
| restricted snakes under this section shall be credited to one of | 1273 |
| the following funds, as applicable: | 1274 |
| (1) If the animal or snake was quarantined or transferred by | 1275 |
| an employee of the department of agriculture or the department of | 1276 |
| health, a natural resources law enforcement officer, or a law | 1277 |
| enforcement officer who is a state highway patrol trooper, the | 1278 |
| dangerous and restricted animal fund created in section 935.25 of | 1279 |
| the Revised Code; | 1280 |
| (2) If the animal or snake was quarantined or transferred by | 1281 |
| an employee of a board of health, a special fund, which is hereby | 1282 |
| created in each health district, that shall be used exclusively | 1283 |
| for the administration and enforcement of this chapter and rules; | 1284 |
| (3) If the animal or snake was quarantined or transferred by | 1285 |
| an agent of a humane society, a special fund, which is hereby | 1286 |
| created in each county that has a humane society, that shall be | 1287 |
| used exclusively for the administration and enforcement of this | 1288 |
| chapter and rules; | 1289 |
| (4) If the animal or snake was quarantined or transferred by | 1290 |
| a law enforcement officer who is not a state highway patrol | 1291 |
| trooper, the special fund that is created in the political | 1292 |
| subdivision that employs the law enforcement officer in division | 1293 |
| (D) of section 935.16 of the Revised Code. | 1294 |
| (K) The director shall maintain a list of facilities inside | 1295 |
| and outside the state that the director determines are eligible to | 1296 |
| accept dangerous wild animals and restricted snakes for the | 1297 |
| purposes of this section. | 1298 |
| Sec. 935.21. The director of agriculture may request either | 1299 |
| of the following to accompany the director or an employee of the | 1300 |
| department of agriculture for purposes of investigations and | 1301 |
| inspections conducted under this chapter: | 1302 |
| (A) A law enforcement officer; | 1303 |
| (B) With the consent of the director of natural resources, a | 1304 |
| natural resources law enforcement officer. | 1305 |
| Sec. 935.22. An employee of an agency or political | 1306 |
| subdivision of the state that destroys a dangerous wild animal or | 1307 |
| restricted snake that is a threat to public safety is not liable | 1308 |
| for damages in a civil action for any injury, death, or loss to | 1309 |
| person or property that allegedly arises from the destruction of | 1310 |
| the animal or snake. | 1311 |
| Sec. 935.23. (A) The owner of a restricted snake specified in | 1312 |
| division (L)(2), (3), or (4) of section 935.01 of the Revised Code | 1313 |
| shall do both of the following: | 1314 |
| (1) Have access to antivenom for each species of snake that | 1315 |
| the person owns either at the location where each snake is | 1316 |
| confined or at a hospital, as defined in section 3727.01 of the | 1317 |
| Revised Code, with which the owner has entered into a written | 1318 |
| agreement to provide the antivenom. However, an owner may apply to | 1319 |
| the director of agriculture for a waiver to have access to | 1320 |
| antivenom in a location that is not specified in division (A)(1) | 1321 |
| of this section. | 1322 |
| (2) Submit proof of having access to the antivenom required | 1323 |
| by division (A)(1) of this section to the sheriff of the county | 1324 |
| and the chief law enforcement officer of the township or municipal | 1325 |
| corporation in which each snake that the person owns is confined. | 1326 |
| In addition, the owner shall submit a list that contains the | 1327 |
| name of each species of restricted snake specified in division | 1328 |
| (L)(2), (3), or (4) of section 935.01 of the Revised Code that the | 1329 |
| person owns to the sheriff of the county and the chief law | 1330 |
| enforcement officer of the township or municipal corporation in | 1331 |
| which each snake is confined. If the restricted snake or snakes | 1332 |
| owned by the person change, the owner shall submit an updated list | 1333 |
| to the sheriff of the county and the chief law enforcement officer | 1334 |
| of the township or municipal corporation in which each such snake | 1335 |
| is confined no later than seven days after the change occurs. | 1336 |
| (B) If a restricted snake specified in division (L)(2), (3), | 1337 |
| or (4) of section 935.01 of the Revised Code bites a person other | 1338 |
| than the snake's owner, the owner is liable for all costs | 1339 |
| associated with the treatment of the bite, including the cost of | 1340 |
| replacement of any antivenom that was used to treat the bite. | 1341 |
| Sec. 935.24. (A) The attorney general, upon request of the | 1342 |
| director of agriculture, shall bring an action for injunction | 1343 |
| against any person who has violated, is violating, or is | 1344 |
| threatening to violate this chapter or rules. The court of common | 1345 |
| pleas in which an action for injunction is filed has jurisdiction | 1346 |
| to and shall grant preliminary and permanent injunctive relief | 1347 |
| upon a showing that the person against whom the action is brought | 1348 |
| has violated, is violating, or is threatening to violate this | 1349 |
| chapter or rules. | 1350 |
| (B)(1) The director may assess a civil penalty against any | 1351 |
| person that the director determines is not in compliance with this | 1352 |
| chapter or rules. | 1353 |
| (2) The director shall afford the person an opportunity for | 1354 |
| an adjudication under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to | 1355 |
| challenge the director's determination that the person is not in | 1356 |
| compliance with this chapter or rules. However, the person may | 1357 |
| waive the right to an adjudication. | 1358 |
| (3) If the opportunity for an adjudication is waived or if, | 1359 |
| after an adjudication, the director determines that a violation | 1360 |
| has occurred or is occurring, the director may issue an order and | 1361 |
| assess a civil penalty in an amount established in rules against | 1362 |
| the violator. The order and the assessment of the civil penalty | 1363 |
| may be appealed in accordance with section 119.12 of the Revised | 1364 |
| Code. | 1365 |
| (C) Notwithstanding any other section of the Revised Code, | 1366 |
| money resulting from any action taken under this section shall be | 1367 |
| credited to the dangerous and restricted animal fund created in | 1368 |
| section 935.25 of the Revised Code. | 1369 |
| Sec. 935.25. (A) There is hereby created in the state | 1370 |
| treasury the dangerous and restricted animal fund, which shall | 1371 |
| consist of all of the following: | 1372 |
| (1) Money collected from permit application fees under this | 1373 |
| chapter; | 1374 |
| (2) Money credited to the fund under division (J)(1) of | 1375 |
| section 935.20 of the Revised Code; | 1376 |
| (3) Money credited to the fund under division (D) of section | 1377 |
| 935.24 of the Revised Code. | 1378 |
| (B) Money in the fund shall be used for any of the following | 1379 |
| purposes: | 1380 |
| (1) Administration and enforcement of this chapter and rules; | 1381 |
| (2) Compensation of the department of natural resources or | 1382 |
| the state highway patrol for the costs incurred in capturing or | 1383 |
| destroying a dangerous wild animal or restricted snake pursuant to | 1384 |
| section 935.16 of the Revised Code; | 1385 |
| (3) Compensation of the departments of natural resources and | 1386 |
| health, the state highway patrol, and boards of health for the | 1387 |
| costs incurred in conducting investigations and quarantining or | 1388 |
| transferring a dangerous wild animal or restricted snake pursuant | 1389 |
| to section 935.20 of the Revised Code; | 1390 |
| (4) Compensation of a facility that is on the list maintained | 1391 |
| by the director of agriculture under division (K) of section | 1392 |
| 935.20 of the Revised Code and that accepts a dangerous wild | 1393 |
| animal or restricted snake pursuant to that section. | 1394 |
| (C) Investment earnings of the fund shall be credited to the | 1395 |
| fund. | 1396 |
| Sec. 935.26. (A) There is hereby created the dangerous and | 1397 |
| restricted animals advisory board consisting of the following | 1398 |
| members: | 1399 |
| (1) The director of agriculture or the director's designee, | 1400 |
| who shall be the chairperson of the board; | 1401 |
| (2) The director of natural resources or the director's | 1402 |
| designee; | 1403 |
| (3) The director of health or the director's designee; | 1404 |
| (4) The state veterinarian in the department of agriculture; | 1405 |
| (5) The following eleven members who shall be appointed by | 1406 |
| the governor with the advice and consent of the senate and shall | 1407 |
| be residents of this state: | 1408 |
| (a) One member representing dangerous wild animal or | 1409 |
| restricted snake owners; | 1410 |
| (b) One member who is knowledgeable about dangerous wild | 1411 |
| animals or restricted snakes; | 1412 |
| (c) One member representing an accredited member of the | 1413 |
| association of zoos and aquariums that operates in this state; | 1414 |
| (d) One member representing an accredited member of the | 1415 |
| zoological association of America; | 1416 |
| (e) Two members who are veterinarians; | 1417 |
| (f) Two members representing the public; | 1418 |
| (g) One member representing the governor; | 1419 |
| (h) One member representing a humane society; | 1420 |
| (i) One member representing a board of health. | 1421 |
| (6) One member appointed by the speaker of the house of | 1422 |
| representatives who shall be a restricted snake owner; | 1423 |
| (7) One member appointed by the president of the senate who | 1424 |
| shall be a dangerous wild animal owner. | 1425 |
| Not more than seven members appointed to the board at any | 1426 |
| given time shall be members of the same political party. | 1427 |
| (B)(1) The governor, the speaker of the house of | 1428 |
| representatives, and the president of the senate shall make | 1429 |
| initial appointments to the board not later than forty-five days | 1430 |
| after the effective date of this section. | 1431 |
| (2) The following initial members of the board appointed by | 1432 |
| the governor shall be appointed for a term ending January 15, | 1433 |
| 2013: | 1434 |
| (a) The member representing dangerous wild animal or | 1435 |
| restricted snake owners; | 1436 |
| (b) One of the members who is a veterinarian; | 1437 |
| (c) The member representing the governor; | 1438 |
| (d) The member representing an accredited member of the | 1439 |
| zoological association of America; | 1440 |
| (e) The member representing a board of health. | 1441 |
| (3) The following initial members of the board shall be | 1442 |
| appointed for a term ending January 15, 2014: | 1443 |
| (a) The member appointed by the speaker of the house of | 1444 |
| representatives; | 1445 |
| (b) The member who is knowledgeable about dangerous wild | 1446 |
| animals or restricted snakes; | 1447 |
| (c) The member representing a humane society; | 1448 |
| (d) One of the members representing the public. | 1449 |
| (4) The following initial members of the board shall be | 1450 |
| appointed for a term ending January 15, 2015: | 1451 |
| (a) The member appointed by the president of the senate; | 1452 |
| (b) The member representing an accredited member of the | 1453 |
| association of zoos and aquariums that operates in this state; | 1454 |
| (c) One of the members representing the public; | 1455 |
| (d) One of the members who is a veterinarian. | 1456 |
| Thereafter, terms of office of appointed members shall be for | 1457 |
| three years with each term ending on the same day of the same | 1458 |
| month as did the term that it succeeds. An appointed member shall | 1459 |
| hold office from the date of the member's appointment until the | 1460 |
| end of the term for which the member was appointed. | 1461 |
| The terms of office of the director of agriculture, the | 1462 |
| director of natural resources, the director of health, their | 1463 |
| designees, and the state veterinarian shall coincide with the | 1464 |
| length of time that the person holds the position of director or | 1465 |
| state veterinarian or is a designee, as applicable. If a director, | 1466 |
| a designee, or the state veterinarian resigns or that person's | 1467 |
| employment is terminated, that person shall cease to serve on the | 1468 |
| board, and the successor of that person shall serve on the board | 1469 |
| in accordance with this section. | 1470 |
| (C) Vacancies on the board shall be filled in the manner | 1471 |
| provided for original appointments. A member appointed to fill a | 1472 |
| vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which | 1473 |
| the member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office for the | 1474 |
| remainder of that term. A member shall continue in office | 1475 |
| subsequent to the expiration date of the member's term until the | 1476 |
| member's successor takes office, or until a period of one hundred | 1477 |
| eighty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first. A member may be | 1478 |
| reappointed upon the expiration of the member's term. | 1479 |
| (D) The board shall hold at least three regular meetings each | 1480 |
| year and may hold additional meetings at times that the | 1481 |
| chairperson or a majority of the board members considers | 1482 |
| appropriate. At the first meeting of the board in each calendar | 1483 |
| year, the director of agriculture or the director's designee shall | 1484 |
| designate one member of the board to serve as its | 1485 |
| vice-chairperson. A majority of the board constitutes a quorum. | 1486 |
| The board may act only if a quorum is present and only by a | 1487 |
| majority vote of the members. | 1488 |
| (E) Serving as an appointed member of the board does not | 1489 |
| constitute holding a public office or position of employment under | 1490 |
| the laws of this state and does not constitute grounds for removal | 1491 |
| of public officers or employees from their offices or positions of | 1492 |
| employment. | 1493 |
| (F) Appointed members of the board shall receive no | 1494 |
| compensation for their services. Members shall be reimbursed for | 1495 |
| their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of | 1496 |
| their duties as members. The expenses shall be paid from the | 1497 |
| dangerous and restricted animal fund created in section 935.25 of | 1498 |
| the Revised Code. The expenses shall be paid in accordance with | 1499 |
| the rules and requirements adopted by the department of | 1500 |
| administrative services that are applicable to state employees. | 1501 |
| (G) The board may create committees that it considers | 1502 |
| appropriate to make recommendations to the board. Committees may | 1503 |
| include members who do not serve on the board. | 1504 |
| (H) The board shall do both of the following: | 1505 |
| (1) Review the rules that have been or are proposed to be | 1506 |
| adopted under divisions (A)(2) and (B) of section 935.17 of the | 1507 |
| Revised Code; | 1508 |
| (2) Advise the director of agriculture on the administration | 1509 |
| of this chapter and rules. | 1510 |
| Sec. 935.27. (A) There is hereby created the dangerous wild | 1511 |
| animal state emergency response commission consisting of all of | 1512 |
| the following: | 1513 |
| (1) The director of agriculture or the director's designee, | 1514 |
| who shall be the chairperson of the commission; | 1515 |
| (2) The director of natural resources or the director's | 1516 |
| designee; | 1517 |
| (3) The director of health or the director's designee; | 1518 |
| (4) The executive director of the emergency management agency | 1519 |
| or the executive director's designee; | 1520 |
| (5) A member of the house of representatives appointed by the | 1521 |
| speaker of the house of representatives; | 1522 |
| (6) A member of the senate appointed by the president of the | 1523 |
| senate; | 1524 |
| (7) Both of the following members who shall be appointed by | 1525 |
| the governor with the advice and consent of the senate: | 1526 |
| (a) A person representing a local law enforcement agency; | 1527 |
| (b) A person representing the owners of dangerous wild | 1528 |
| animals. | 1529 |
| (B) Not later than thirty days after the effective date of | 1530 |
| this section, the governor shall make appointments to the | 1531 |
| commission. Of the initial appointments, one shall serve for a | 1532 |
| term of two years and one shall serve for a term of three years. | 1533 |
| Thereafter, terms of office shall be for three years, with each | 1534 |
| term ending on the same day of the same month as did the term that | 1535 |
| it succeeds. Each member shall hold office from the date of | 1536 |
| appointment until the end of the term for which the member was | 1537 |
| appointed. | 1538 |
| Members may be reappointed. Vacancies shall be filled in the | 1539 |
| manner provided for original appointments. Any member appointed to | 1540 |
| fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration date of the term | 1541 |
| for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office | 1542 |
| for the remainder of that term. A member shall continue in office | 1543 |
| subsequent to the expiration date of the member's term until the | 1544 |
| member's successor takes office or until a period of sixty days | 1545 |
| has elapsed, whichever occurs first. | 1546 |
| The commission shall meet at times that the chairperson or a | 1547 |
| majority of the commission members considers appropriate, provided | 1548 |
| that no meeting shall be held on the call of the chairperson | 1549 |
| unless at least seven days' written notice first is provided to | 1550 |
| all members of the commission. At the first meeting of the | 1551 |
| commission in each calendar year, the director of agriculture | 1552 |
| shall designate one member of the commission to serve as its | 1553 |
| vice-chairperson. A majority vote of the members of the commission | 1554 |
| is necessary to take action on any matter. A vacancy on the | 1555 |
| commission does not impair the right of the other members to | 1556 |
| exercise all of the commission's powers. | 1557 |
| Appointed members of the commission shall serve without | 1558 |
| compensation for attending commission meetings. Members of the | 1559 |
| commission shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary | 1560 |
| expenses incurred in the performance of official duties as members | 1561 |
| of the commission. | 1562 |
| The department of agriculture shall provide the commission | 1563 |
| with the personnel, office space, and incidentals necessary for it | 1564 |
| to perform its duties and exercise its powers. | 1565 |
| (C) The commission shall do the following: | 1566 |
| (1) Establish a state dangerous wild animal emergency | 1567 |
| response plan for escaped dangerous wild animals in this state; | 1568 |
| (2) By resolution, appoint members to a dangerous wild animal | 1569 |
| county emergency response team for each county. A county emergency | 1570 |
| response team shall consist of the number of members that the | 1571 |
| commission considers appropriate, but shall include | 1572 |
| representatives from each of the following groups or | 1573 |
| organizations: elected local officials, law enforcement personnel, | 1574 |
| emergency management personnel, firefighting personnel, first aid | 1575 |
| personnel, health personnel, broadcast and print media personnel, | 1576 |
| and persons that possess dangerous wild animals. | 1577 |
| (3) Examine and approve or reject emergency response plans | 1578 |
| submitted to the commission by each county's dangerous wild animal | 1579 |
| county emergency response team. | 1580 |
| The commission shall establish procedures and requirements | 1581 |
| for the preparation and examination and the approval or rejection | 1582 |
| of a county's emergency response plan. | 1583 |
| Sec. 935.28. The dangerous wild animal county emergency | 1584 |
| response team of a county established under section 935.27 of the | 1585 |
| Revised Code shall prepare an emergency response plan for the | 1586 |
| county. The plan shall include the methods and procedures that | 1587 |
| will be utilized in the county in the event of an escaped | 1588 |
| dangerous wild animal in the county. The emergency response team | 1589 |
| shall submit the plan to the dangerous wild animal emergency | 1590 |
| response commission established in section 935.27 of the Revised | 1591 |
| Code for the commission's approval. The emergency response team | 1592 |
| shall update the plan on an annual basis and shall submit the | 1593 |
| updated plan to the commission for approval. | 1594 |
| Sec. 935.29. (A) For the purposes of this section, | 1595 |
| ordinances to control dangerous wild animals, restricted snakes, | 1596 |
| or both include, but are not limited to, ordinances concerned with | 1597 |
| the acquisition or possession of dangerous wild animals or | 1598 |
| restricted snakes, dangerous wild animals or restricted snakes as | 1599 |
| public nuisances, and dangerous wild animals or restricted snakes | 1600 |
| as a threat to public health, safety, and welfare. | 1601 |
| (B) A municipal corporation may adopt and enforce ordinances | 1602 |
| that are more stringent than the requirements established by this | 1603 |
| chapter and rules in order to control dangerous wild animals, | 1604 |
| restricted snakes, or both within the municipal corporation. | 1605 |
| (C) No person shall violate an ordinance adopted under this | 1606 |
| section. | 1607 |
| Sec. 935.99. (A) Whoever violates division (A), (B), (C), | 1608 |
| (E), (F), or (G) of section 935.18 of the Revised Code is guilty | 1609 |
| of a misdemeanor of the first degree on a first offense and a | 1610 |
| felony of the fifth degree on each subsequent offense. | 1611 |
| (B) Whoever violates division (D) of section 935.18 of the | 1612 |
| Revised Code is guilty of a felony of the fifth degree. | 1613 |
| (C) Whoever violates division (C) of section 935.29 of the | 1614 |
| Revised Code is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. Each day of | 1615 |
| continued violation constitutes a separate offense. Fines levied | 1616 |
| and collected for violations of that division shall be distributed | 1617 |
| by the mayor or clerk of the municipal court in accordance with | 1618 |
| section 733.40 or division (F) of section 1901.31 of the Revised | 1619 |
| Code to the treasury of the municipal corporation whose ordinance | 1620 |
| was violated. | 1621 |
| Sec. 1533.71. (A) Unless otherwise provided by division | 1622 |
| rule, any person desiring to engage in the business of raising and | 1623 |
| selling game birds, game quadrupeds, reptiles, amphibians, or | 1624 |
| fur-bearing animals in a wholly enclosed preserve of which the | 1625 |
| person is the owner or lessee, or to have game birds, game | 1626 |
| quadrupeds, reptiles, amphibians, or fur-bearing animals in | 1627 |
| captivity, shall apply in writing to the division of wildlife for | 1628 |
| a license to do so. | 1629 |
| (B) The division, when it appears that the application is | 1630 |
| made in good faith and upon the payment of the fee for each | 1631 |
| license, may issue to the applicant any of the following licenses | 1632 |
| that may be applied for: | 1633 |
| | 1634 |
| licensee to propagate game birds, game quadrupeds, reptiles, | 1635 |
| amphibians, or fur-bearing animals in the wholly enclosed preserve | 1636 |
| the location of which is stated in the license and the application | 1637 |
| therefor, and to sell the propagated game birds, game quadrupeds, | 1638 |
| reptiles, amphibians, or fur-bearing animals and ship them from | 1639 |
| the state alive at any time, and permitting the licensee and the | 1640 |
| licensee's employees to kill the propagated game birds, game | 1641 |
| quadrupeds, or fur-bearing animals and sell the carcasses for food | 1642 |
| subject to sections 1533.70 to 1533.80 of the Revised Code. The | 1643 |
| fee for such a license is forty dollars per annum. | 1644 |
| | 1645 |
| licensee to propagate game birds, game quadrupeds, reptiles, | 1646 |
| amphibians, or fur-bearing animals and to hold the animals in | 1647 |
| captivity. Game birds, game quadrupeds, reptiles, amphibians, and | 1648 |
| fur-bearing animals propagated or held in captivity by authority | 1649 |
| of a noncommercial propagating license are for the licensee's own | 1650 |
| use and shall not be sold. The fee for such a license is | 1651 |
| twenty-five dollars per annum. | 1652 |
| | 1653 |
| organized clubs, associations, or individuals approved by the | 1654 |
| division to engage in the raising of game birds, game quadrupeds, | 1655 |
| or fur-bearing animals for release only and not for sale or | 1656 |
| personal use. | 1657 |
| (C) Except as provided by law, no person shall possess game | 1658 |
| birds, game quadrupeds, or fur-bearing animals in closed season, | 1659 |
| provided that municipal or governmental zoological parks are not | 1660 |
| required to obtain the licenses provided for in this section. | 1661 |
| All licenses issued under this section shall expire on the | 1662 |
| fifteenth day of March of each year. | 1663 |
| The chief of the division of wildlife shall pay all moneys | 1664 |
| received as fees for the issuance of licenses under this section | 1665 |
| into the state treasury to the credit of the fund created by | 1666 |
| section 1533.15 of the Revised Code for the use of the division in | 1667 |
| the purchase, preservation, and protection of wild animals and for | 1668 |
| the necessary clerical help and forms required by sections 1533.70 | 1669 |
| to 1533.80 of the Revised Code. | 1670 |
| (D) This section does not authorize the taking or the release | 1671 |
| for taking of the following: | 1672 |
| (1) Game birds, without first obtaining a commercial bird | 1673 |
| shooting preserve license issued under section 1533.72 of the | 1674 |
| Revised Code; | 1675 |
| (2) Game or nonnative wildlife, without first obtaining a | 1676 |
| wild animal hunting preserve license issued under section 1533.721 | 1677 |
| of the Revised Code. | 1678 |
| (E) A license shall not be issued under this section to raise | 1679 |
| or sell a dangerous wild animal or restricted snake as defined in | 1680 |
| section 935.01 of the Revised Code. | 1681 |
| Section 2. That existing section 1533.71 and section 2927.21 | 1682 |
| of the Revised Code are hereby repealed. | 1683 |
