SB 5377 - DIGEST

Provides that a person shall not own, possess, keep, harbor, bring into the state, or have custody or control of a potentially dangerous wild animal, except as provided in this act.

Declares that a person shall not breed a potentially dangerous wild animal.

Provides that a person in legal possession of a potentially dangerous wild animal prior to the effective date of this act and who is the legal possessor of the animal may keep possession of the animal until July 1, 2010.

Provides that the animal control authority or a law enforcement officer may immediately confiscate a potentially dangerous wild animal if: (1) The animal is possessed after July 1, 2010, and the possessor has not been granted permission to maintain possession after July 1, 2010, as allowed under this act;

(2) The animal control authority or law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that the animal was acquired after the effective date of this act in violation of this act; or

(3) The animal poses a public safety or health risk.

Authorizes a city or county to adopt an ordinance governing potentially dangerous wild animals that is more restrictive than this act. However, nothing in this act requires a city or county to adopt an ordinance to be in compliance with this act.

Declares that a person who acquires possession of a potentially dangerous wild animal after the effective date of this act, or who possesses a potentially dangerous wild animal after July 1, 2010, in violation of this act, is liable for a civil penalty of not less than two hundred dollars and not more than two thousand dollars for each animal with respect to which there is a violation and for each day the violation continues.

Provides that the animal control authority and its staff and agents, local law enforcement agents, and county sheriffs are authorized and empowered to enforce the provisions of this act.

Provides that, if a locality does not have a local animal control authority, the department of fish and wildlife shall enforce the provisions of this act.