SB776 Summary

• Amends Oklahoma commercial wildlife breeder licensing requirements by deleting restrictions on selling native cats or bears and removing specific licensing/permit requirements for keeping or exhibiting native cats weighing 50+ pounds.

• Creates new restrictions on "dangerous wild animals" (defined as specific big cats, bears, and primates) by prohibiting possession, sale, transfer, and breeding unless exempt under specified categories (zoos, research facilities, wildlife sanctuaries, veterinary hospitals, law enforcement, circuses, temporary transport).

• Prohibits allowing public to have direct contact with dangerous wild animals and establishes seizure, forfeiture, and court proceedings for violations, with costs payable by violators.

• Allows law enforcement to humanely destroy improperly confined dangerous wild animals at owner's expense and permits county residents to sue owners for violations.

• Establishes misdemeanor penalties (up to 1 year jail and/or $500 fine) for violations and felony charges if owner's reckless disregard for safety causes serious bodily injury from animal attack; effective June 1, 2015.