PRINTER'S NO. 4123
No. 797 Session of 2004
INTRODUCED BY HERSHEY, REICHLEY, PHILLIPS, B. SMITH, BUNT, ARMSTRONG, CIVERA, CLYMER, CURRY, GODSHALL, HENNESSEY, JAMES, R. MILLER, S. MILLER, PICKETT, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SCHRODER, SURRA, YOUNGBLOOD AND ZUG, JUNE 21, 2004
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS, JUNE 21, 2004
A RESOLUTION 1 Directing the Joint State Government Commission to study the 2 feasibility and suitability of transferring the regulatory 3 authority of exotic wildlife maintained in captivity from the 4 Pennsylvania Game Commission to the Department of 5 Agriculture. 6 WHEREAS, The definition of "exotic wildlife" in Title 34 of 7 the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is confusing and subject 8 to misinterpretation; and 9 WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Game Commission is currently the 10 regulatory agency for exotic wildlife; and 11 WHEREAS, The Department of Agriculture has the authority to 12 regulate the health of all animals maintained in captivity; and 13 WHEREAS, The citizens of this Commonwealth would greatly 14 benefit from clearly defined areas of regulatory authority for 15 exotic wildlife maintained in captivity; therefore be it 16 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint 17 State Government Commission to study the efficacy of the 18 existing statute and regulations as well as the feasibility and
1 suitability of transferring the regulatory authority of exotic 2 wildlife maintained in captivity from the Pennsylvania Game 3 Commission to the Department of Agriculture; and be it further 4 RESOLVED, That this study address the following: 5 (1) Protection of the public from dangerous animals and 6 disease transmission from exotic wildlife to humans. 7 (2) Protection of the domestic animal population from 8 unwanted predators, unwanted genetic interaction and disease 9 transmission from exotic wildlife. 10 (3) Protection of the indigenous wildlife population 11 from unwanted predators, unwanted genetic interaction and 12 disease transmission from exotic wildlife. 13 (4) The care and keeping of exotic wildlife maintained 14 in captivity. 15 (5) Categories of exotic wildlife which should be 16 regulated and by which agency. Should any species be 17 prohibited from being maintained in captivity? 18 (6) Recommendations for clarifying the relevant 19 definitions related to regulating exotic wildlife maintained 20 in captivity. 21 (7) Recommendations for local government involvement in 22 the regulation of exotic wildlife maintained in captivity. 23 (8) Ways the budgets of the Pennsylvania Game 24 Commission, the Department of Agriculture and the General 25 Fund would be affected by any change in the regulatory 26 authority for exotic wildlife maintained in captivity. What 27 new costs would be associated with a transfer of authority to 28 the Department of Agriculture? 29 (9) How would the existing work force be utilized if any 30 change in regulatory authority is recommended? What new 20040H0797R4123 - 2 -
1 personnel would be necessary, what training would be 2 available and at what cost? 3 and be it further 4 RESOLVED, That the report of the Joint State Government 5 Commission be submitted to the House of Representatives by 6 December 31, 2004. F14L82SFL/20040H0797R4123 - 3 -