THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY HALUSKA, BRENNAN, CARROLL, CONKLIN, DALEY, DENLINGER, EVERETT, GOODMAN, PASHINSKI, SONNEY, STERN AND TAYLOR, FEBRUARY 29, 2012

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON GAME AND FISHERIES, FEBRUARY 29, 2012  

AN ACT

Amending Title 30 (Fish) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated

Statutes, providing for nonindigenous and exotic reptile and

amphibian possession permits.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Title 30 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated

Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:

§ 2904.1.  Nonindigenous and exotic reptile and amphibian

possession permits.

(a)  Authorization.--The commission may issue a permit to a

person to possess a nonindigenous or exotic reptile or

amphibian, upon application, which shall authorize the holder to

purchase, receive or possess a nonindigenous or exotic reptile

or amphibian from any lawful source from within or without this

Commonwealth.

(b)  Fees.--The annual fees for permits provided for under

subsection (a) are as follows:

(1)  Nonindigenous or exotic reptile or amphibian dealer,

$200.

(2)  Nonindigenous or exotic reptile or amphibian 

possession, $25.

(c)  Shelter, care and protection.--No permit provided for in

this section shall be granted until the commission is satisfied

that the provisions for housing and caring for the nonindigenous

or exotic reptile or amphibian and for protecting the public are

proper and adequate and in accordance with the standards

established by the commission.

(d)  Unlawful acts.--It is unlawful for any person to:

(1)  Possess, purchase or receive a nonindigenous or

exotic reptile or amphibian, without first securing a permit

to possess a nonindigenous or exotic reptile or amphibian

issued under this section or regulations pertaining to this

section.

(2)  Release a nonindigenous or exotic reptile or

amphibian into the wild.

(3)  Fail to exercise due care in safeguarding the public

from attack by a nonindigenous or exotic reptile or

amphibian.

(4)  Recklessly engage in conduct which places or may

place another person in danger of attack by a nonindigenous

or exotic reptile or amphibian.

(e)  Discretion of executive director.--In addition to the

penalties provided, the executive director may, for any

violation of this section, revoke or suspend any permit and

order the disposal of any nonindigenous or exotic reptile or

amphibian held.

(f)  Applicability.--This section applies to nonindigenous or

exotic reptiles and amphibians not prohibited under section 2507

(relating to sale of certain fish, reptiles and amphibians

prohibited).

Section 2.  The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission shall

institute a program of 30 days' duration whereby Commonwealth

residents are provided the opportunity to relinquish unwanted

reptiles and amphibians at regional offices of the commission

prior to the effective date of 30 Pa.C.S. § 2904.1.

Section 3.  This act shall take effect as follows:

(1)  The addition of 30 Pa.C.S. § 2904.1 shall take

effect January 1, 2013.

(2)  The remainder of this act shall take effect

immediately.