Bill Summary: SB 294 - Ivory and Rhinoceros Horn Prohibition

• Prohibits the purchase, sale, offer for sale, or possession with intent to sell any ivory or rhinoceros horn in Connecticut, effective July 1, 2021.

• Defines ivory as teeth or tusks from elephants, hippopotamuses, walruses, whales, or narwhals, and rhinoceros horn as the horn or derivatives thereof, including powders or products containing these materials.

• Allows exemptions for antiques with ivory removed from the wild before February 26, 1976 (if elephant ivory), musical instruments made before February 26, 1976, noncommercial inheritance transfers, and educational or scientific institutions.

• Establishes penalties of class B misdemeanor with fines of at least $3,000 or twice the article's total value for first offense, and at least $6,000 or three times the value for subsequent offenses, with possible imprisonment up to six months for first offense and one year for subsequent violations.

• Requires forfeited ivory and rhinoceros horn to be maintained by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for educational purposes, donated to qualified institutions, or destroyed.