SB244 - Exotic Animal Protection Act of 2021

• Prohibits possession, sale, transfer, breeding, and importation of large wild cats, great apes, wolves, and non-native bears, with exceptions for licensed facilities, sanctuaries, research institutions, and wildlife enforcement.

• Allows persons who lawfully possessed these animals before the effective date to keep them for the animal's lifetime if they register with local animal control by January 1, 2022, pay a one-time $500 registration fee per site and annual $100 per animal fees, and comply with federal Animal Welfare Act standards.

• Establishes conditions for registered possessors including maintaining veterinary records, prohibiting breeding or acquisition of additional animals, allowing animal control authority inspections, and developing escape contingency plans.

• Authorizes animal control authorities to confiscate animals posing immediate public danger or in imminent danger of death, with return of confiscated animals only if legal possession is established and no public safety risk exists.

• Creates a Class A misdemeanor punishable by $1,000 fine for first offense and $5,000 for second offense for violations, with enforcement authority granted to animal control agencies, law enforcement, and county sheriffs.