The purpose of the proposed rule is to prohibit the alteration of the locking mechanism of CITES tags. The effect will be to strengthen enforcement actions on persons trying to subvert tagging requirements.

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Freshwater Fish and Wildlife

RULE NO: RULE TITLE
68A-25.004: Regulations Governing the Operation of Alligator Farms
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the proposed rule is to prohibit the alteration of the locking mechanism of CITES tags. The effect will be to strengthen enforcement actions on persons trying to subvert tagging requirements.
SUMMARY: The proposed rule would make it illegal to alter the locking mechanism of CITES tags.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: No Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution
A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
DATE AND TIME: During the regular meeting of the Commission, February 6-7, 2008, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., each day
PLACE: Bay Point Marriott Golf Resort & Spa, 4200 Marriott Drive, Panama City Beach, Florida 3240
Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 5 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: The ADA Coordinator, at [phone]. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Nick Wiley, Director, Division of Hunting and Game Management, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

68A-25.004 Regulations Governing the Operation of Alligator Farms.

Alligator farms may be established and operated and alligators, eggs, and hides may be possessed by alligator farmers and their agents subject to the following:

(1) No change.

(2) Licensing and permitting:

(a) No change.

(b) Alligator farm permittees and their agents shall be licensed at a fee of $250 and $50, respectively, as required by Section 372.6673, F.S.

(c) through (j) No change.

(3) through (6) No change.

(7) Harvest of alligators:

(a) Any alligator killed under the authority of this section or that dies on a farm shall be recorded in the farm inventory records and either tagged within 24 hours with a CITES tag, furnished at no cost to the alligator farm permittee by the Commission, or destroyed. The CITES tag shall remain attached to the alligator hide until the hide is tanned, taxidermy mounted, or exported from the state. CITES tags may not be altered to compromise the locking mechanism in any way and shall be used only one time. The possession of any alligator hide or carcass not tagged as prescribed herein or any unskinned, untagged, frozen alligator carcass is prohibited, and such hides and carcasses shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture to the Commission under the provisions of Section 372.73, F.S.

(b) through (f) No change.

(8) No change.

Specific Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const., 372.6673 FS. History–New 8-1-79, Amended 6-21-82, Formerly 39-25.04, Amended 8-24-87, 6-7-88, 2-14-89, 4-11-90, 4-4-91, 4-15-92, 7-1-94, 3-30-95, 4-1-96, 9-15-96, 11-12-98, Formerly 39-25.004, Amended 4-30-00, 3-30-06,________.

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Nick Wiley, Director, Division of Hunting and Game Management, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600
NAME OF SUPERVISOR OR PERSON WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Mr. Kenneth D. Haddad, Executive Director
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: December 5, 2007
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: December 7, 2007