| Missouri General Assembly |
Missouri Department of Agriculture
|
Missouri Constitution |
Current Law: Registration of wild dangerous animals
2011 Legislation
SB 138 Creates the Nonhuman Primate Act
SB 138 TEXT PDF
AN ACT
To amend chapter 578, RSMo, by adding thereto sixteen new sections relating to
private possession of nonhuman primates, with penalty provisions.
2010 Legislation
REXANO OPPOSES
Passed, includes the large Carnivore Act TEXT PDF
SB 795 (omnibus bill) AN ACT To repeal sections 196.316, 265.300, 266.355, 267.565, 267.600, 270.260, 270.400, 273.327, 273.329, 281.260, 311.297, 311.550, 319.306, and 319.321, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof fifty-seven new sections relating to animals and agriculture, with penalty provisions.
Sponsor: Republican Mayer Robert (District 99)
HB 1288: Establishes the Large Carnivore Act which regulates the ownership, possession, transportation, and breeding of large carnivores
Sponsor: Republican Sutherland, Mike (District 99)
Summary PDF
TEXT PDF
SB 832 Creates the Large Carnivore Act which regulates the possession and care of certain non-native big cats and bears
Sponsor: Republican Dempsey, Tom (District 23)
Summary PDF
TEXT
PDF
REXANO SUPPORTS
HB 1825: Affirms the
right to raise animals in a humane manner
Sponsor:
Republican Loehner, Tom (District 112)
Summary PDF
TEXT PDF
HJR 86:
Proposes a constitutional amendment affirming the right to raise
animals in a humane manner in order to protect Missouri's agricultural economy
Sponsor:
Republican Loehner, Tom (District 112)
Summary Introduced , Summary Committee PDF
TEXT Introduced,
TEXT
Committee PDF
2009 Legislation
There will be a hearing on HB 426 (Large Carnivore Act) Wednesday, May 13th in Senate Committee Room 1 at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, MO.
HB 426 Establishes the Large Carnivore Act which regulates the ownership, possession, and breeding of large carnivores
Sponsor: Sutherland, Mike (District 99)
Republican
CoSponsor: Dixon, Bob (District 140) Republican
LR Number: 1012L.01I Last Action: 01/28/2009
Proposed Effective Date: 08/28/2009
HB 426: TEXT as Introduced
SB 227 Modifies provisions relating to dangerous animal registration
Sponsor: Tom Dempsey [Dist. 23], Republican
LR Number: 1142S.01I
Committee: General Laws
Last Action: 1/27/2009 - Second Read and Referred S General Laws Committee
Journal Page
Effective Date: August 28, 2009
SB 227: TEXT as Introduced
Current Bill Summary
SB 227 - Under current law, certain dangerous wild animals
may not be kept unless they are registered with local law enforcement except if
the animals are kept in a zoo, circus, scientific or educational institution,
research laboratory, veterinary hospital or animal refuge. This act removes the
exception for animal refuges. The act also adds the criteria that research
laboratories and scientific and educational institutions must be accredited,
veterinary hospitals must be permitted by the Missouri Veterinary Medical Board,
and zoos must be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in order
for the exception to apply.
The act removes the margay, jaguarundi, coyote, and certain reptiles from the
list of animals for which registration is required.
The act specifies that the law enforcement agency responsible for receiving the
registrations is the chief law enforcement official in each county or in the
City of St. Louis, or his or her designee.
Any such dangerous wild animal shall be registered within 5 days of being
acquired or moved into any county or the city of St. Louis. The act adds the
requirement that registration of such animals must be renewed annually.
The chief law enforcement official in each county or in St. Louis is required to
maintain the registry of dangerous wild animals and make the registry available
for disaster preparedness, emergencies, and to the general public via a website.
The official can charge a registration fee to cover the administrative expenses
associated with maintaining the registry not to exceed $50 for a first
registration or $25 for a renewal registration. Animal refuges that operate as
non-profit organizations are exempt from the fee provisions.
The act specifies the information that must be recorded as part of the animal's
registration.
Any animal required to be registered under this act shall be identifiable by a
microchip or other reliable identification device.
The act prohibits the bringing of any such dangerous wild animal to a public,
commercial, or retail establishment unless it is a veterinarian or veterinary
clinic. The animals shall not come into contact with anyone other than the
owner, possessor, handler, or veterinarian.
A violation of the act is a Class A misdemeanor.
The act is similar to SB 1032 (2008).
ERIKA JAQUES
2008 Legislation
Lawmaker to revisit exotic animals bill August 7, 2008
REXANO Opposes
SB 1032
Our Interpretation of SB 1032 January 2008
SB 1032 Modifies provisions relating to dangerous animal registration
S.B. 1032 TEXT
HB 1847
Message from ASA regarding HB 1847 1/29/2008
House Bill 1847 Prohibits the possession of a wild animal as a pet without the issuance of a permit by the Department of Agriculture
H.B.1847 TEXT
H.B.1847 PDF TEXT
2007 Legislation
In the news:
Bills aim to restrict ownership of exotic animals
Missouri is a haven for large cat owners without permits, a lawmaker says.
2/21/2007
SB 206 and HB 901
Creates the "Large Carnivore Act" which regulates the possession and care of large carnivores
Main page: SB 206
Main page: HB 901
Current Bill Summary
SB 206 - This act creates the Large Carnivore Act. Except as permitted in
the act, the act prohibits the owning, breeding, possession, transferring of
ownership, or transporting of "large carnivores," defined as certain
non-native cats of the Felidae family or any species of non-native bear held
in captivity.
Persons possessing, breeding, or transporting a large carnivore on or after
January 1, 2008, must apply for a permit from the Department of Agriculture.
Owners of large carnivores must have an identification number inserted in
the animal via subcutaneous microchip. Certain entities are exempt from the
permit and microchip requirements.
Any person who owns or possesses a large carnivore is liable in a civil
action for the death or injury of a human or another animal and for any
property damage caused by the large carnivore. If a large carnivore escapes
or is released intentionally or unintentionally, the owner is required to
immediately notify law enforcement and is liable for all expenses associated
with the efforts to recapture the large carnivore. As a condition of being
permitted to own a large carnivore, the owner is required to show proof of
having liability insurance in an amount of not less than $250,000.
Requirements for the confinement, handling, sanitation, feeding,
transporting, veterinary care, and seizure of large carnivores are
specified. The requirements are in addition to any applicable state or
federal law and do not preclude any local political subdivision from
adopting more restrictive laws. Certain entities, law enforcement officials,
animal control officers, and veterinarians are exempt from provisions of the
act.
Individuals who intentionally release a large carnivore shall be guilty of a
Class D felony. Other violations of this act shall be a Class A misdemeanor,
subject to possible community service, loss of privilege to own or possess
an animal, and civil forfeiture of any large carnivore.
This act is similar to the perfected HB 1441 (2006).
ERIKA JAQUES
www.REXANO.org