S-3642.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6279

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      56th Legislature     2000 Regular Session

By Senators Haugen and Rasmussen

Read first time 01/12/2000.  Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Rural Economic Development.

Creating a task force to study regulation of owning and breeding exotic pets.

    AN ACT Relating to exotic pets; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  (1) The legislature finds that many people own and raise exotic pets in the state of Washington.  The legislature further finds that there are many issues surrounding exotic pets including but not limited to the educational value of diverse species, health and safety concerns, and environmental issues.  The legislature further finds that legislation has been enacted in other states regulating private citizens' possession of exotic pets.  Since legislation in other states may not fit the needs of Washington's citizens, the legislature finds that a study about the issues of owning and breeding exotic pets will help determine the best public policy in Washington, balancing the best interests of all of the citizens.

    (2) The department of agriculture shall appoint a task force to study the issue of regulating exotic pets in the state of Washington.  The task force shall include but not be limited to representatives of the department of agriculture, the department of fish and wildlife, the department of health, and local governmental officials; owners and breeders of exotic pets; veterinarians; zoologists; and interested citizens.  The task force shall look at issues surrounding exotic pets including but not limited to:  The definition of exotic pets, the safety and health of both people and other domestic and wildlife, the protection of agriculture, the cost of regulating exotic pets, and issues of state-wide uniformity versus local control.  The task force shall submit its recommendations to the agriculture and rural economic development committee in the senate and the agriculture and ecology committee in the house of representatives.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  This act expires January 30, 2001.

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