Oregon (3065) & Washington (1151) -ban bill- updates

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Posted by wittsd on April 16, 2003 at 15:38:37:

Summary update for bills previously posted on this forum for OR & WA.
( http://forum.kingsnake.com/law/messages/8382.html
http://forum.kingsnake.com/law/messages/8381.html )

Oregon HB 3065
==============
summary from: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenix_Exotics/message/26032

This is officially dead as of April 11th :)

In theory, another bill could be "gutted and stuffed" to effect
such a ban, but there is no likely candidate for this procedure.

However, another bill of this nature (cloned from WA HB1151
or the original Shambala Bill, as pushed by API) *WILL* be back
next year.
IMHO, it would make much sense to pre-empt this and/or fire off
an alternate bill to formalise self-regulation, links to
government departments, improve ownership profile, etc.
At present, I don't think we have a cross-species "Legislative
Task Force" set up, as has been done for WA state (see below).

Any thoughts on this?

Washington HB1151
=================
This is still in limbo...

The original "ban bill" text has been replaced *entirely* by
the recommendation to undertake a study "identifying animals
which may be considered dangerous as pets, the potential harm
these animals may cause if privately owned, and ways in which
local jurisdictions and public agencies may act to protect the
public against possible health and safety threats of owning wild
animals"
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenix_Exotics/message/25614
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenix_Exotics/message/26032
... In theory, an over-protectionist recommendation off the back
of such a study could result in negative implications for
herpers ("ever present risk of salmonella", etc. and you can
guarantee that API, PAWS & co. will be pushing the scare tactics
to the limit on this).

At present, we have *no* control over who carries out such a
"study", but will be seeking to ensure that responsible owner/
owner group input is sought, and that a through analysis of
Department of Health statistics is undertaken for exotic species
compared with other day-to-day risks to public health.

To this end, and to address other pre-emptive actions which may
be undertaken before the next legislative session, Phoenix has
formed a cross-interest "Legislative Task Force".
Please contact Jeanne Hall ( jeanneh@tds.net ) for further
details or check out the Phoenix Exotics mailing
list.

*** Also, if you know of other groups (not just in OR or WA)
who are seeking to take positive actions to counter the current
"ban bill" fear, misunderstanding and loathing mentalities,
please drop a note to myself, or the Phoenix list to further
improve our networking. ***

Thank you & Best wishes,
David.
http://www.phoenixexotics.org/

Phoenix Exotics email list

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that is the best news i've heard today herpluver 04/17/03 (0)