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106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 5360

To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a comprehensive evaluation

of, and make necessary recommendations to Congress regarding, Federal

and State laws that regulate private ownership of exotic wild animals.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

OCTOBER 3, 2000

Mr. POMBO (for himself and Mr. LANTOS) introduced the following bill; which

was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the

Committee on Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by

the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of, and make necessary recommendations to Congress regarding, Federal and State

laws that regulate private ownership of exotic wild animals.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. REPORT.

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the

5 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agri6 culture, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior,
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1 the Secretary of Commerce, and private organizations that

2 are experts in the handling, housing, breeding, behavior,

3 training, and medical care of exotic wild animals, shall

4 submit a report to the chairman and ranking member of

5 each of the following:

6 (1) The Committee on Agriculture of the House

7 of Representatives.

8 (2) The Committee on Commerce of the House

9 of Representatives.

10 (3) The Committee on Resources of the House

11 of Representatives.

12 (4) The Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition,

13 and Forestry of the Senate.

14 (5) The Committee on Commerce, Science, and

15 Transportation of the Senate.

16 (6) The Committee on Environment and Public

17 Works of the Senate.

18 (b) CONTENTS.—The report shall include the fol19 lowing:

20 (1) An examination of Federal and State laws

21 and regulations pertaining to the private ownership

22 of exotic wild animals, including an evaluation of the

23 effectiveness of such laws and regulations.
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1 (2) A description of any Federal funding

2 insufficiencies that hamper Federal agencies in car3 rying out such Federal laws and regulations.

4 (3) Legislative recommendations for improving

5 enforcement of such Federal laws and regulations.

6 (4) An analysis of the cooperative efforts be7 tween Federal and State governments regarding the

8 enforcement of such Federal and State laws and reg9 ulations and recommendations for improving such

10 cooperation.

11 (5) An analysis of public health, safety, and

12 welfare issues related to the private ownership of ex13 otic wild animals and recommendations to address

14 any such issues that are not fully addressed by laws

15 in force at the time of the study.

16 (6) An analysis of issues related to unregulated

17 breeding of exotic wild animals in private ownership

18 and recommendations to address any such issues

19 that are not fully addressed by laws in force at the

20 time of the study.

21 (c) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section, the

22 following definitions apply:

23 (1) EXOTIC WILD ANIMAL.—The term ‘‘exotic

24 wild animal’’ means any species of animal or hybrid

25 cross of any species of animal that is not native to
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1 the United States, was introduced to the United

2 States from outside its borders, or not normally a

3 domesticated species kept in captivity by individuals

4 in the United States.

5 (2) PRIVATE OWNERSHIP.—The term ‘‘private

6 ownership’’ shall not include ownership or physical

7 custody of an exotic wild animal by a person or facil8 ity licensed by the Animal and Plant Health Inspec9 tion Service of the United States Department of Ag10 riculture or a State equivalent to own or have phys11 ical custody of an exotic wild animal for the purpose

12 of research, testing, training, exhibition, breeding,

13 teaching, or rescuing an exotic wild animal.

14 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is

15 authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 to carry out this

16 section.

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