[FEL-L] RE: Haley's Act (HR 5959) Text of legislation

[Bigcats10 at aol.com]

Haley's Act (Introduced in House)

HR 5909 IH  
109th CONGRESS 
2d Session 
H. R. 5909 
<TTITLE>To promote public safety and improve the welfare of captive big cats, 
 and for other p  
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
July 26, 2006
Mr. RYUN of Kansas (for himself, Mr. TIAHRT, Mr. MORAN of Kansas, and Mr.  
MOORE of Kansas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  
Committee on Agriculture  
  
____________________________________

A BILL 
<BTITLE>To promote public safety and improve the welfare of captive big cats, 
 and for other p  
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United  
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as `Haley's Act'.
SEC. 2. BIG CATS.
(a) Definitions- Section 2 of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2132) is  
amended by adding at the end the following new subsections:
`(p) The term `big cat' means any live species of lion, tiger, leopard,  
cheetah, jaguar, or cougar or any hybrid of such species.
`(q) The term `direct contact' means any situation in which an individual  
may potentially touch or otherwise come into physical contact with any live  
specimen of a species.'.
(b) Applicability of State Law- Section 3 of such Act (7 U.S.C. 2133) is  
amended by adding at the end the following: `The Secretary may deny or revoke  a 
license based on a recommendation from the appropriate State or local  
officials with jurisdiction over captive wildlife.'
(c) Public Safety- Section 13(a)(2) of such Act (7 U.S.C. 2143(a)(2)) is  
amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking `and' at the end;

(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking the final period and inserting `;  and'; 
and

(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

`(C) to provide for public safety.'.


(d) Increased Fines- Section 19 of such Act (7 U.S.C. 2149) is  amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--

(A) in the first sentence, by striking `$2,500' and inserting  `$10,000'; and


(B) in the seventh sentence, by striking `$1,500' and inserting  `$5,000'; and


(2) in subsection (d) in the first sentence, by striking `$2,500' and  
inserting `$10,000'.

(e) Prohibition on Direct Contact With Big Cats- Such Act is further  amended 
by adding at the end the following new section:
`SEC. 30. PROHIBITION ON DIRECT CONTACT BETWEEN PUBLIC AND BIG CATS.
`(a) In General- Subject to subsection (b), it shall be unlawful for an  
exhibitor or dealer licensed by the Secretary under this Act to allow direct  
contact between a big cat and a member of the public.
`(b) Exception-
`(1) IN GENERAL- Subsection (a) shall not apply to an exhibitor that is  a 
zoo, as determined by the Secretary.

`(2) CONSIDERATION OF ACCREDITATION- In determining whether an exhibitor  is 
a zoo under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider--

`(A) whether the exhibitor is accredited by, and in good standing  with, the 
Association of Zoos and Aquariums; and


`(B) whether the exhibitor operates with sufficient regard for public  
safety.'.


(f) Regulations-
(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment  of 
this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall issue regulations pursuant  to 
section 21 of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2151) to implement the  
amendments made by this Act.

(2) RESTRICTION ON LICENSES-

(A) IN GENERAL- The Secretary of Agriculture may not grant a license  under 
section 3 of such Act to a dealer or exhibitor that possesses or  intends to 
possess a big cat until the regulations described in paragraph  (1) have been 
issued.


(B) EXCEPTION- The restriction described in subparagraph (A) shall not  apply 
to the renewal of an existing license.




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