The purpose and effect of this rule development effort is to address the possession and housing of captive wildlife, venomous reptiles and reptiles of concern. The proposed rules will provide clarification regarding permitting requirements, facility ...

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Freshwater Fish and Wildlife

RULE NO: RULE TITLE
68A-6.003: Structural Caging Requirement for Class I, II and III Wildlife
68A-6.004: Standard Caging Requirements for Captive Wildlife
68A-6.007: Reptiles of Concern; Prohibited Species
68A-6.0022: Possession of Wildlife in Captivity; Permits
68A-6.0071: Regulations Governing Dealers of Live Venomous Reptiles or Reptiles of Concern; Reporting Requirements
68A-6.0072: Regulations Governing Identification of Venomous Reptiles and Reptiles of Concern; Escape
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose and effect of this rule development effort is to address the possession and housing of captive wildlife, venomous reptiles and reptiles of concern. The proposed rules will provide clarification regarding permitting requirements, facility and land area requirements, standard caging requirements, record keeping and reporting requirements for the possession of captive wildlife, venomous reptiles or reptiles of concern, and identification of non-native venomous reptiles and reptiles of concern.
SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Subject areas to be covered in the proposed rules include possession and housing of captive wildlife, venomous reptiles and reptiles of concern. Proposed rules will: Require safety entrances for enclosures housing capuchin, spider and woolly monkeys; Address land area requirements for facilities housing Class I or Class II wildlife; Consolidate and clarify caging requirements for reptiles and amphibians; Develop minimum caging requirements for large constrictor snakes; Consolidate portions of Rule 68A-25.002 with Rule 68A-25.006 to create Rule 68A-6.007, F.A.C., addressing the possession, exhibition, and caging or venomous reptiles, and reptiles of concern, and prohibited species; Require development of Natural Disaster Plan or Critical Incident Plan for all permittees authorized to possess captive wildlife, venomous reptiles or reptiles of concern; Require development and posting of Bite Protocol and Cage Card Identification at venomous reptile facilities; Develop record keeping and reporting requirements for dealers of live venomous reptiles or reptiles of concern; Develop requirements for the permanent marking/identification of venomous reptiles and reptiles of concern; Require reporting within 24 hours of discovery of the escape of any non-native venomous reptile or reptile of concern.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: Art. IV, Sec. 9, Florida Constitution.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: Art. IV, Sec. 9, Florida Constitution.
A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
TIME AND DATE: August 21, 2006, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
PLACE: Doyle Connor Building, Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry, 1911 S.W. 34th Street, 1st Floor Auditorium, Gainesville, FL 32608-1201
DATE AND TIME: August 22, 2006, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
PLACE: Tampa Port Authority, 1101 Channelside Drive, 1st Floor Board Room, Tampa, FL 33602
DATE AND TIME: August 23, 2006, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
PLACE: Broward County Main Library, 100 S. Andrews Avenue, 8th Floor, Rooms 8A & 8B, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301-1830
DATE AND TIME: August 28, 2006, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
PLACE: Pensacola Junior College, 1000 College Blvd., Hagler Auditorium, Bldg. 2 Room 252, Pensacola, FL 32504-8910
DATE AND TIME: August 29, 2006, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
PLACE: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Bryant Building, 620 S. Meridian Street, 2nd Floor, Room 272, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT AND A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT, IF AVAILABLE, IS: Captain Linda Harrison, Division of Law Enforcement, Investigations Section, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600, [phone]
THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS NOT AVAILABLE.
FUTURE DRAFTS OF THE PROPOSED RULES WILL BE AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE AND MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE CONTACT PERSON LISTED ABOVE.