SB1277: Wildlife exhibitor permit; possession and display of wildlife in schools for educational purposes.

SENATE BILL NO. 1277

Offered January 14, 2013
A BILL to amend and reenact § 29.1-417 of the Code of Virginia, relating to wildlife exhibitor permit; exemption.
Patron-- Stuart

Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That § 29.1-417 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 29.1-417. Capturing, holding, propagating, and disposing of wildlife for authorized purposes.

A. The fee for a permit to capture, hold, propagate, and dispose of wildlife for purposes authorized by the Board, shall be an amount sufficient to defray the costs of processing the permit and administering the permitted activity. However, in no instance shall the fees established by the Board exceed the following:

1. For endangered species, scientific collection and wildlife holder, $20 per year; and

2. For all other such permits, $50 per year.

The permit shall also authorize the permittee to artificially raise trout or catfish for sale from a privately owned facility where the permittee allows public fishing from its facilities. If this fee has been paid, no license shall be required to fish from such a facility.

B. The Board shall establish standard conditions for the possession and display of wildlife by elementary or secondary school teachers for educational purposes. No permit fee or application shall be required, and such display shall be deemed to be permitted so long as notification of the display is made to the Department and the exhibit is in compliance with the conditions established by the Board. The Board's conditions may include species permitted to be possessed and displayed, caging and enclosure requirements, prohibitions on release of wildlife, and notification requirements in the case of wildlife sickness or escape.