Florida Senate - 2010                                     SB 318
       
       
       
       By Senator Sobel
       
       
       
       
       31-00241-10                                            2010318__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to reptiles; amending s. 379.372,
    3         F.S.; prohibiting any person from possessing,
    4         importing, selling, trading, or breeding certain
    5         specified reptile species, including a reptile
    6         designated as a reptile of concern by the Fish and
    7         Wildlife Conservation Commission; providing certain
    8         exceptions applicable to reptiles for which the owner
    9         holds a permit issued before a specified date;
   10         providing an effective date.
   11  
   12  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   13  
   14         Section 1. Section 379.372, Florida Statutes, is amended to
   15  read:
   16         379.372 Capturing, keeping, possessing, transporting, or
   17  exhibiting venomous reptiles or reptiles of concern; license
   18  required.—
   19         (1)(a) No person, firm, or corporation shall capture, keep,
   20  possess, or exhibit any poisonous or venomous reptile or reptile
   21  of concern without first having obtained a special permit or
   22  license therefor from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
   23  Commission as provided in this section.
   24         (b)(2) By December 31, 2007, the commission shall establish
   25  a list of reptiles of concern, including venomous, nonvenomous,
   26  native, nonnative, or other reptiles, which require additional
   27  regulation for capture, possession, transportation, or
   28  exhibition due to their nature, habits, status, or potential to
   29  negatively impact the environment, ecology, or humans.
   30         (c)(3) It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or
   31  corporation, whether licensed hereunder or not, to capture,
   32  keep, possess, or exhibit any venomous reptile or reptile of
   33  concern in any manner not approved as safe, secure, and proper
   34  by the commission. Venomous reptiles or reptiles of concern held
   35  in captivity are subject to inspection by the commission. The
   36  commission shall determine whether the reptiles are securely,
   37  safely, and properly penned. In the event that the reptiles are
   38  not safely penned, the commission shall report the situation in
   39  writing to the person, firm, or corporation owning the reptiles.
   40  Failure of the person, firm, or corporation to correct the
   41  situation within 30 days after such written notice shall be
   42  grounds for revocation of the license or permit of the person,
   43  firm, or corporation.
   44         (d)(4) Venomous reptiles or reptiles of concern shall be
   45  transported in a safe, secure, and proper manner. The commission
   46  shall establish by rule the requirements for the transportation
   47  of venomous reptiles or reptiles of concern.
   48         (2)(a) No person, firm, or corporation shall keep, possess,
   49  import into the state, sell, barter, trade, or breed the
   50  following species for personal use or for sale for personal use:
   51         1. Burmese or Indian python (Python molurus).
   52         2. Reticulated python (Python reticulatus).
   53         3. African rock python (Python sebae).
   54         4. Amethystine or scrub python (Morelia amethystinus).
   55         5. Anaconda (Eunectes).
   56         6. Nile monitor (Varanus niloticus).
   57         7. Any other reptile designated as a reptile of concern by
   58  the commission.
   59         (b) However, if a person holds a permit issued before July
   60  1, 2010, pursuant to subsection (1) to legally possess a species
   61  listed in paragraph (a), that person may possess the individual
   62  reptile for the remainder of that reptile’s life. Any person who
   63  possesses an anaconda, other than a green anaconda (Eunectes
   64  murinus), and who meets the required criteria must obtain a
   65  permit pursuant to subsection (1) by October 1, 2010, in order
   66  to keep that anaconda for the remainder of its life.
   67         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2010.