S.22-4.72: Tiger King Act (PASSED)

[fhtagn]

TIGER KING ACT

1. As used in this act:

A. Public zoo means a park, institution, or other place in which living animals are kept, housed, cared for, and exhibited to the public. This shall not include any property used in connection with agriculture or scientific research.

B. Wildcat Rescue means an organization that keeps, houses, cares for, or exhibits to the public listed endangered species of the animal family felidae.

 2. No public zoo or wildcat rescue in the Southern Region shall keep or house any animal in a cage or pen unless such cage or pen provides adequate space for the animal to stand upright, lie down fully, stretch, or walk at least ten (10) paces in any direction from the center of the cage or pen.

3. No public zoo or wildcat rescue in the Southern Region shall pay or compensate any employee, contractor, agent, or volunteer with expired meat or meat that was unfit for sale for human consumption when acquired by the zoo.

4. If any volunteer at a public zoo or wildcat rescue in the Southern Region volunteers more than twenty (20) hours in a one (1) week period, such volunteer shall be classified as an employee for all relevant employment laws.

5. No public zoo or wildcat rescue shall euthanize any listed endangered species in its care, custody, or control, except to prevent prolonged suffering from an injury or illness from which the animal is unlikely to recover. This shall not affect the right to self-defense or defense of others.

6. No person shall transport any animal of the animal family felidae for a commercial purpose in the Southern Region if the animal is aged less than six (6) months and is a listed endangered species. For purposes of this provision, selling photographs of a customer with such an animal or renting the animal for a designated play time shall constitute a commercial purpose. For purposes of this provision, the general exhibition of such an animal in a public zoo shall not be considered a commercial purpose if such public zoo has the capacity to keep, house, care for, or exhibit to the public such animal for the entire span of such animal's natural life.

7. The Southern Region hereby authorizes the Attorney General to investigate the August 18, 1997 disappearance of Don Lewis.

8. A violation of any provision of this act shall be a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for no more than one (1) year, a fine of no more than $25,000.00, and disgorgement of any profits.

9. This act shall take effect January 1, 2023.

Sponsor: fhtagn

[Mr. Reactionary]

This harmonizes our law with federal law on big cat zoos

[fhtagn]

Motioning for a final vote. 24 hours for objections.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

No objection.

[fhtagn]

A final vote on this bill is now open for 72 hours, or until 24 hours after this has enough votes to pass or fail, or until everybody votes, whichever occurs soonest.

[fhtagn]

Aye

[UlmerFudd]

aye

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Aye

[reagente]

aye

[RFayette]

aye

[fhtagn]

The bill now passes and awaits gubernatorial action.

Aye: 5
Nay:0
Present: 0
Not voting: 0

TIGER KING ACT

1. As used in this act:

A. Public zoo means a park, institution, or other place in which living animals are kept, housed, cared for, and exhibited to the public. This shall not include any property used in connection with agriculture or scientific research.

B. Wildcat Rescue means an organization that keeps, houses, cares for, or exhibits to the public listed endangered species of the animal family felidae.

 2. No public zoo or wildcat rescue in the Southern Region shall keep or house any animal in a cage or pen unless such cage or pen provides adequate space for the animal to stand upright, lie down fully, stretch, or walk at least ten (10) paces in any direction from the center of the cage or pen.

3. No public zoo or wildcat rescue in the Southern Region shall pay or compensate any employee, contractor, agent, or volunteer with expired meat or meat that was unfit for sale for human consumption when acquired by the zoo.

4. If any volunteer at a public zoo or wildcat rescue in the Southern Region volunteers more than twenty (20) hours in a one (1) week period, such volunteer shall be classified as an employee for all relevant employment laws.

5. No public zoo or wildcat rescue shall euthanize any listed endangered species in its care, custody, or control, except to prevent prolonged suffering from an injury or illness from which the animal is unlikely to recover. This shall not affect the right to self-defense or defense of others.

6. No person shall transport any animal of the animal family felidae for a commercial purpose in the Southern Region if the animal is aged less than six (6) months and is a listed endangered species. For purposes of this provision, selling photographs of a customer with such an animal or renting the animal for a designated play time shall constitute a commercial purpose. For purposes of this provision, the general exhibition of such an animal in a public zoo shall not be considered a commercial purpose if such public zoo has the capacity to keep, house, care for, or exhibit to the public such animal for the entire span of such animal's natural life.

7. The Southern Region hereby authorizes the Attorney General to investigate the August 18, 1997 disappearance of Don Lewis.

8. A violation of any provision of this act shall be a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for no more than one (1) year, a fine of no more than $25,000.00, and disgorgement of any profits.

9. This act shall take effect January 1, 2023.