[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5909 Introduced in House (IH)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5909

 To promote public safety and improve the welfare of captive big cats, 
                        and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 26, 2006

 Mr. Ryun of Kansas (for himself, Mr. Tiahrt, Mr. Moran of Kansas, and 
Mr. Moore of Kansas) introduced the following bill; which was referred 
                    to the Committee on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To promote public safety and improve the welfare of captive big cats, 
                        and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as ``Haley's Act''.

SEC. 2. BIG CATS.

    (a) Definitions.--Section 2 of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 
2132) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsections:
    ``(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 species.''.
    (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 
wildlife.''
    (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 subparagraph:
                    ``(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)--
                    (A) in the first sentence, by striking ``$2,500'' 
                and inserting ``$10,000''; and
                    (B) in the seventh sentence, by striking ``$1,500'' 
                and inserting ``$5,000''; 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 Secretary 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--
                    ``(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 Secretary of Agriculture shall 
        issue regulations pursuant 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 Agriculture may 
                not grant a license under section 3 of such Act to a 
                dealer or exhibitor that possesses or intends to 
                possess a big cat until the regulations described in 
                paragraph (1) have been issued.
                    (B) Exception.--The restriction described in 
                subparagraph (A) shall not apply to the renewal of an 
                existing license.
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