110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1947
To promote public safety and improve the welfare of captive big
cats, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 19, 2007
Mrs. BOYDA of Kansas (for herself, Mr. MOORE of Kansas, Mr. MORAN of Kansas,
Mr. TIAHRT, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California,
Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. FRANK
of Massachusetts, and Mr. STARK) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Agriculture
A BILL
To promote public safety and improve the welfare of captive big
cats, and for other purposes.
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--
(A) in the first sentence, by striking `$2,500' and inserting `$10,000';
and
(B) in the seventh sentence, by striking `shall be subject to' and all
that follows through `each offense' and inserting `shall be subject
to a civil penalty of $5,000 for each offense' ; 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.
`(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.'.
(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.
END
