SECOND REGULAR SESSION
94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE SUTHERLAND.
Read 1st time March 25, 2008 and copies ordered printed.
D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To repeal section 578.023, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to dangerous wild animals, with penalty provisions.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Section 578.023, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 578.023, to read as follows:
578.023. 1. No person [may] shall own, possess, or keep any lion, tiger, leopard, ocelot, jaguar, cheetah, margay, mountain lion, Canada lynx, bobcat, jaguarundi, hyena, wolf, bear, or nonhuman primate[, coyote, any deadly, dangerous, or poisonous reptile, or any deadly or dangerous reptile over eight feet long,] in any place other than a properly maintained [zoological park,] :
(1) Transitory circus[,] ;
(2) Accredited scientific[,] or educational institution[,] ;
(3) Accredited research laboratory[,] ;
(4) Permitted veterinary hospital, as authorized by the Missouri veterinary medical board created under section 340.202, RSMo; or [animal refuge,]
(5) Zoological park that is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums;
unless such person has registered such [animals] animal with the [local] chief law enforcement [agency in] official, or his or her designee, of the county or city if not within a county in which the animal is kept. Such registration shall be required within five days of acquiring, possessing, or moving such an animal to a county or city not within a county. Any registration under this section shall be required to be renewed on an annual basis throughout the duration of the animal's presence in such location.
2. The chief law enforcement official in subsection 1 of this section, or his or her designee, shall maintain a registry of any such animals registered under this section. The registry shall be made available to the public via a publicly-accessible website and shall additionally be made available for disaster preparedness or for emergencies. The chief law enforcement official may charge a registration fee of an amount sufficient to cover the administrative costs of maintaining the registry but such fee shall not exceed fifty dollars for a first registration or twenty-five dollars for a renewal registration.
3. The registration required in this section shall include the following information:
(1) The name, address, telephone number, and date of birth of the person owning, possessing, or keeping the animal;
(2) A description of each animal, including the scientific name, given name, sex, age, color, weight, and any distinguishing marks or coloration that would aid in the identification of the animal;
(3) A photograph of the animal;
(4) The exact location where the animal is to be kept;
(5) The name, address, and telephone number of the person from whom the applicant obtained the animal, if known;
(6) The microchip number or other identification number for the animal;
(7) The name, address, and telephone number of the veterinarian providing veterinary care to the animal; and
(8) The name, address, telephone number, and date of birth of any adult person designated as a handler for the animal.
4. Any animal required to be registered under this section shall be identifiable by microchip or other reliable animal identification device or system.
5. No animal required to be registered under this section shall be allowed to enter upon or be taken to any public property, or any commercial or retail establishment unless the owner or possessor is bringing the animal to a licensed veterinarian or veterinary clinic. No such animal shall be permitted to come into contact with anyone other than the owner, possessor, a registered designated handler, or a veterinarian administering medical examination, treatment, or care.
6. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a class [C] A misdemeanor.
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