District Of Columbia 2023-2024 Regular Session

District Of Columbia Council Bill B25-0122 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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4	4	______________________________ ______________________________ 1
5	5	Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau Councilmember Vincent C. Gray 2
6	6	______________________________ ______________________________ 3
7	7	Councilmember Robert White, Jr. Councilmember Charles Allen 4
8	8	______________________________ ______________________________ 5
9	9	Councilmember Brooke Pinto Councilmember Kenyan R. McDuffie 6
10	10	______________________________ ______________________________ 7
11	11	Councilmember Anita Bonds Councilmember Janeese Lewis George 8
12	12	______________________________ ______________________________ 9
13	13	Councilmember Zachary Parker Councilmember Matthew Frumin 10
14	14	11
15	15	A BILL 12
16	16	____________ 13
17	17	IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 14
18	18	____________ 15
19	19	To prohibit the sale of animal fur products. 16
20	20	17
21	21	BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 18
22	22	act may be cited as the “Fur Products Prohibition Act of 2023”. 19
23	23	Sec. 2. Definitions. 20
24	24	For purposes of this Act, the Term: 21
25	25	2
26	26
27	27	(1) “Fur” means any animal skin or part thereof with hair, fleece, or fur fibers 22
28	28	attached thereto, either in its raw or processed state. 23
29	29	(2) “Fur product” means any article of clothing or covering, or any fashion 24
30	30	accessory, including, but not limited to, handbags, shoes, slippers, hats, earmuffs, scarves, 25
31	31	shawls, gloves, jewelry or key chains, and home accessories and décor, that is made in whole or 26
32	32	part of fur. The term “Fur product” does not include: 27
33	33	(A) An animal skin or part thereof that is to be converted into leather, or 28
34	34	which in processing will have the hair, fleece, or fur fiber completely removed; 29
35	35	(B) Cowhide with the hair attached thereto; 30
36	36	(C) Lambskin or sheepskin with the fleece attached thereto; or 31
37	37	(D) The pelt or skin of any animal that is preserved through taxidermy or 32
38	38	for the purpose of taxidermy. 33
39	39	(3) “Non-profit organization” means any corporation that is organized under 26 34
40	40	U.S.C. Section 501(c)(3). 35
41	41	(4) “Person” means an individual, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, 36
42	42	limited liability company, corporation, estate, trust, receiver, or syndicate. 37
43	43	(5) “Taxidermy” means the practice of preparing and preserving the skin of an 38
44	44	animal that is deceased and stuffing and mounting it in lifelike form. 39
45	45	(6) “Ultimate consumer” means an individual who buys a fur product for their 40
46	46	own use, or for the use of another, but not for resale or trade. 41
47	47	(7) “Used fur product” means a fur product that has been worn or used by an 42
48	48	ultimate consumer. 43
49	49	Sec. 3. Prohibition. 44
50	50	3
51	51
52	52	(a) It is unlawful to sell, offer for sale, display for sale, trade, or otherwise distribute for 45
53	53	monetary or nonmonetary consideration any fur product in the District of Columbia. For 46
54	54	purposes of this Chapter, the sale of a fur product shall be deemed to occur in the District of 47
55	55	Columbia if: 48
56	56	(1) the buyer takes physical possession of the fur product in the District; or 49
57	57	(2) the seller is located in the District. 50
58	58	(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, it shall not be unlawful for a person to 51
59	59	sell offer for sale, display for sale, trade, or otherwise distribute for monetary or nonmonetary 52
60	60	consideration: 53
61	61	(1) A used fur product by an individual, non-profit organization or second-hand 54
62	62	store, including a pawn shop; 55
63	63	(2) A fur product required for use in religious practice; or 56
64	64	(3) A fur product where the activity is expressly authorized by federal law. 57
65	65	Sec. 4. Penalty. 58
66	66	A person who violates section 3 shall be subject to a civil penalty of up to $500; 59
67	67	provided: 60
68	68	(1) For a violation that occurs within one year of a previous violation, a civil 61
69	69	penalty of up to $750; and 62
70	70	(2) For a violation that occurs within one year of a second or subsequent 63
71	71	violation, a civil penalty of up to $1,000. 64
72	72	Sec. 5. Fiscal Impact Statement 65
73	73	4
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75	75	The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 66
76	76	impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 67
77	77	approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 68
78	78	Sec. 6. Effective date. 69
79	79	This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 70
80	80	Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as 71
81	81	provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 72
82	82	24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of 73
83	83	Columbia Register. 74