[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5360 Introduced in House (IH)]







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.

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

SECTION 1. REPORT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation 
with the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Commerce, and 
private organizations that are experts in the handling, housing, 
breeding, behavior, training, and medical care of exotic wild animals, 
shall submit a report to the chairman and ranking member of each of the 
following:
            (1) The Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
        Representatives.
            (2) The Committee on Commerce of the House of 
        Representatives.
            (3) The Committee on Resources of the House of 
        Representatives.
            (4) The Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 
        of the Senate.
            (5) The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
        of the Senate.
            (6) The Committee on Environment and Public Works of the 
        Senate.
    (b) Contents.--The report shall include the following:
            (1) An examination of Federal and State laws and 
        regulations pertaining to the private ownership of exotic wild 
        animals, including an evaluation of the effectiveness of such 
        laws and regulations.
            (2) A description of any Federal funding insufficiencies 
        that hamper Federal agencies in carrying out such Federal laws 
        and regulations.
            (3) Legislative recommendations for improving enforcement 
        of such Federal laws and regulations.
            (4) An analysis of the cooperative efforts between Federal 
        and State governments regarding the enforcement of such Federal 
        and State laws and regulations and recommendations for 
        improving such cooperation.
            (5) An analysis of public health, safety, and welfare 
        issues related to the private ownership of exotic wild animals 
        and recommendations to address any such issues that are not 
        fully addressed by laws in force at the time of the study.
            (6) An analysis of issues related to unregulated breeding 
        of exotic wild animals in private ownership and recommendations 
        to address any such issues that are not fully addressed by laws 
        in force at the time of the study.
    (c) Definitions.--For purposes of this section, the following 
definitions apply:
            (1) Exotic wild animal.--The term ``exotic wild animal'' 
        means any species of animal or hybrid cross of any species of 
        animal that is not native to the United States, was introduced 
        to the United States from outside its borders, or not normally 
        a domesticated species kept in captivity by individuals in the 
        United States.
            (2) Private ownership.--The term ``private ownership'' 
        shall not include ownership or physical custody of an exotic 
        wild animal by a person or facility licensed by the Animal and 
        Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department 
        of Agriculture or a State equivalent to own or have physical 
        custody of an exotic wild animal for the purpose of research, 
        testing, training, exhibition, breeding, teaching, or rescuing 
        an exotic wild animal.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated $1,000,000 to carry out this section.
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