‘‘(p) The term ‘big cat’ means any live species of lion, 
tiger, leopard, cheetah, jaguar, or cougar or any hybrid 
of such species. 
‘‘(q) The term ‘direct contact’ means any situation 
in which an individual may potentially touch or otherwise 
come into physical contact with any live specimen of a spe-
cies.’’. 
(b) APPLICABILITY OF STATE LAW.—Section 3 of 
such Act (7 U.S.C. 2133) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: ‘‘The Secretary may deny or revoke a 
license based on a recommendation from the appropriate 
State or local officials with jurisdiction over captive wild-
life.’’ 
(c) PUBLIC SAFETY.—Section 13(a)(2) of such Act 
(7 U.S.C. 2143(a)(2)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking the final 
period and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(C) to provide for public safety.’’. 
(d) INCREASED FINES.—Section 19 of such Act (7 
U.S.C. 2149) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b)— 
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(A) in the first sentence, by striking 
‘‘$2,500’’ and inserting ‘‘$10,000’’; and 
(B) in the seventh sentence, by striking 
‘‘shall be subject to’’ and all that follows 
through ‘‘each offense’’ and inserting ‘‘shall be 
subject to a civil penalty of $5,000 for each of-
fense’’ ; and 
(2) in subsection (d) in the first sentence, by 
striking ‘‘$2,500’’ and inserting ‘‘$10,000’’. 
(e) PROHIBITION ON DIRECT CONTACT WITH BIG 
CATS.—Such Act is further amended by adding at the end 
the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 30. PROHIBITION ON DIRECT CONTACT BETWEEN 
PUBLIC AND BIG CATS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (b), it shall 
be unlawful for an exhibitor or dealer licensed by the Sec-
retary under this Act to allow direct contact between a 
big cat and a member of the public. 
‘‘(b) EXCEPTION.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Subsection (a) shall not 
apply to an exhibitor that is a zoo, as determined by 
the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) CONSIDERATION OF ACCREDITATION.—In 
determining whether an exhibitor is a zoo under 
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider— 
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‘‘(A) whether the exhibitor is accredited 
by, and in good standing with, the Association 
of Zoos and Aquariums; and 
‘‘(B) whether the exhibitor operates with 
sufficient regard for public safety.’’. 
(f) REGULATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Agriculture shall issue regulations pursu-
ant to section 21 of the Animal Welfare Act (7 
U.S.C. 2151) to implement the amendments made 
by this Act. 
(2) RESTRICTION ON LICENSES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture may not grant a license under section 3 
of such Act to a dealer or exhibitor that pos-
sesses or intends to possess a big cat until the 
regulations described in paragraph (1) have 
been issued. 
(B) 
EXCEPTION.—The 
restriction 
de-
scribed in subparagraph (A) shall not apply to 
the renewal of an existing license. 
Æ 
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