CS/CS/HB 709 Summary

• Prohibits keeping, possessing, importing, selling, breeding, or trading specific large reptile species including Burmese pythons, reticulated pythons, green anacondas, and Nile monitors, with exceptions for permits issued before July 1, 2010.

• Expands regulation of nonnative animals by requiring authorization from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for importing, selling, or releasing nonnative species; designates conditional and prohibited species requiring permits.

• Establishes civil penalties up to $5,000 per animal (up to $10,000 total per violation) for violations involving nonnative wildlife, conditional species, prohibited reptiles, and venomous reptiles, with proceeds deposited into the State Game Trust Fund.

• Requires the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to evaluate adding iguanas and other species to the list of reptiles of concern by December 31, 2010, and to submit annual reports to the Legislature listing designated conditional, prohibited, and reptile of concern species.

• Revises bonding and insurance requirements for wildlife exhibitions and clarifies that traveling wildlife exhibitors and licensed zoological facilities are exempted from certain reptile possession prohibitions.