HSB 628

This bill amends Code chapter 717F, which regulates owning, possessing, or transporting dangerous wild animals under the authority of the department of agriculture and land stewardship (DALS). Generally, the Code chapter prohibits a person from owning or possessing a dangerous wild animal in this state, or transporting a dangerous wild animal into this state, unless the person is licensed by the United States department of agriculture and registered by DALS. A “dangerous wild animal” includes cats (classified as belonging to the family felidae) other than domestic cats. The term also includes the offspring of a dangerous wild animal and any subsequent generation of offspring. _____ between a domestic cat and a serval. In both cases, there must be a separation of four filial generations between the Asian leopard cat or serval and the exempted cat. The generations are calculated by counting from the first filial generation which is the offspring of the original crossing. The filial generations are sometimes referred to as F-1 through F-4 to identify the first four filial generations of offspring. The current exemption applies to those cats classified as F-4 (fourth) or a later filial generation. The bill changes that exemption to include bengals and savannahs classified as F-2 (second) or a later filial generation.13). An aggravated misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than two years and a fine of at least $855 but not more than $8,540.