HLS 16RS-1861 ORIGINAL
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 999
BY REPRESENTATIVE LEOPOLD
WILDLIFE & FISHERIES: Requires the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to adopt
rules to control and prohibit the importation and private possession of big exotic cats
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 56:6(31), relative to powers of the Wildlife and Fisheries
3 Commission; to require the commission to adopt rules to control and prohibit the
4 importation and possession of big exotic cats; and to provide for related matters.
5Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 56:6(31) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
7 ยง6. Special powers and duties; statistics; rules and regulations; reports
8 The commission, through its secretary:
9 * * *
10 (31) Shall promulgate rules and regulations to control and prohibit the
11 importation and private possession of big exotic cats including but not limited to
12 tigers, lions, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, and hybrids resulting from cross-breeding
13 of such cats. The rules shall provide exceptions for big cats traditionally kept by
14 colleges and universities as school mascots, animal sanctuaries, zoos, wildlife
15 research centers, and scientific organizations. Such rules shall address Internet
16 purchase of such animals. Such rules shall also provide for permits for certain
17 institutions and for owners who can prove previous ownership. Previous ownership
18 shall include persons who obtained their animal by lawful means and continuously
19 possessed their animal since August 15, 2006. Violation of rules and regulations
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 16RS-1861 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 999
1 adopted pursuant to the provisions of this Paragraph constitutes a class two violation
2 punishable as provided in R.S. 56:32.
3 * * *
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 999 Original 2016 Regular Session Leopold
Abstract: Requires the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to adopt rules to control and
prohibit the importation and possession of big exotic cats.
Present law requires the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to adopt rules to control the
importation and possession of big exotic cats. Provides for certain exceptions.
Proposed law would require the rule to also allow the commission to prohibit the importation
and possession of big exotic cats.
(Amends R.S. 56:6(31))
Page 2 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.