HB 1787 Summary

• Prohibits importing, selling, offering for sale, purchasing, bartering, or possessing with intent to sell ivory, ivory products, rhinoceros horn, or rhinoceros horn products in Oklahoma, with limited exceptions.

• Establishes presumptive evidence of intent to sell when items are possessed in retail or wholesale outlets, though obtaining an appraisal alone does not constitute intent to sell.

• Allows permits from the Department of Wildlife Conservation for educational/scientific purposes, antiques less than 100 years old with less than 20% ivory/horn by volume, and musical instruments or firearms manufactured no later than 1975.

• Penalizes violations with fines of at least $1,000 or twice the total value (whichever is greater) for first offense, and at least $5,000 or twice the value for subsequent offenses; courts must seize items and transfer them to the Department for destruction or donation to educational institutions.

• Becomes effective November 1, 2015.