CT HB05578

Prohibits the purchase, sale, offer for sale, or possession with intent to sell of ivory (from elephants, hippopotamuses, mammoths, walruses, whales, or narwhals) and rhinoceros horn, effective July 1, 2017.

Exempts antique ivory items that predate February 26, 1976 (for elephant ivory), comprise less than 20 percent of the item's total volume, are not primarily valued for the ivory component, and include historical documentation or expert affidavit proving the item is at least 100 years old.

Allows musical instruments made before February 26, 1976 containing ivory, noncommercial inheritance transfers, and possession by bona fide educational, scientific, or museum institutions.

Creates a class B misdemeanor with penalties of $3,000 or twice the item's fair market value (whichever is greater) for first offense, and $6,000 or three times the value (whichever is greater) for subsequent violations, including possible imprisonment.

Requires seized ivory and rhinoceros horn to be forfeited upon conviction and either retained by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for educational purposes, donated to qualified institutions, or destroyed.