SENATE BILL 97167
BY SENATORS Hernandez, Ament, Bishop, J. Johnson, Martinez, Phillips, Powers, Rupert, and Wattenberg;
also REPRESENTATIVES Entz, Gordon, Mace, Reeser,
Udall, Schwarz, and Tupa.
CONCERNING AUTHORIZATION FOR A STUDY OF CERTAIN HYBRID
ANIMALS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State
of Colorado:
SECTION 1. Title 35, Colorado Revised Statutes, 1995 Repl. Vol., as amended, is amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW ARTICLE to read:
ARTICLE 81
Hybrid Animals
3581101. Legislative declaration.
(1) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HEREBY DETERMINES AND DECLARES
THAT:
(a) HYBRID CANIDS AND FELINES MAY POSE
A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO OTHER ANIMALS AND HUMANS BECAUSE OF THEIR
UNPREDICTABLE NATURE;
(b) WOLF HYBRIDS IN PARTICULAR MAY POSE
A THREAT TO HUMANS AND HAVE BEEN DECLARED RESPONSIBLE FOR KILLING
TWO CHILDREN EACH YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES;
(c) TEN STATES PROHIBIT THE BREEDING AND
MAINTENANCE OF WOLF HYBRIDS;
(d) MOST HYBRID CANIDS AND FELINES ARE
ABANDONED OR KILLED WHEN THEY REACH TWO TO THREE YEARS OF AGE
AND EXHIBIT THEIR WILD NATURE, AND SOME ULTIMATELY ARE CONTAINED
IN HYBRIDANIMAL REFUGES.
(2) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FURTHER DETERMINES
THAT PROBLEMS CAUSED BY HYBRID CANIDS AND FELINES, AND THE LACK
OF DEFINITIVE INFORMATION CONCERNING THE SAME, WARRANT A STUDY
OF:
(a) THE BEHAVIOR OF SUCH ANIMALS;
(b) THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM IN THIS
STATE RESULTING FROM OR PROJECTED TO RESULT FROM HYBRID CANIDS
AND FELINES;
(c) THE REGULATION OF THE BREEDING, CARE,
AND MAINTENANCE OF HYBRID CANIDS AND FELINES THAT IS NECESSARY
TO PROTECT THE HEALTH, WELFARE, AND SAFETY OF THE RESIDENTS OF
THIS STATE AND LIVESTOCK AND OTHER ANIMAL LIFE.
3581102. Study of hybrid
animals. (1) THE COMMISSIONER
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO APPOINT
AND CONVENE AN ADVISORY GROUP TO STUDY THE BEHAVIOR OF HYBRID
CANIDS AND FELINES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, WOLF HYBRIDS,
WHICH STUDY SHALL INCLUDE A REVIEW OF ANY INCIDENTS INVOLVING
PROPERTY DAMAGE AND PERSONAL INJURY CAUSED BY SUCH ANIMALS. THE
ADVISORY GROUP SHALL CONSIST OF THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE OR THE COMMISSIONER=S
DESIGNEE, A VETERINARIAN, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE DIVISION OF
WILDLIFE, WOLFREFUGE OWNERS, HYBRID CANID OR FELINE BREEDERS,
ANIMALWELFARE AGENCIES, AND THE AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL
COMMUNITIES.
(2) NO LATER THAN JANUARY 15, 1998, THE
DEPARTMENT SHALL PRESENT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES OF REFERENCE WITH
A SUMMARY OF ITS FINDINGS, INCLUDING, IF NECESSARY, PROPOSALS
FOR LEGISLATION.
(3) FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 3581101
AND THIS SECTION, A "HYBRID CANID OR FELINE" MEANS AN
ANIMAL PRODUCED BY BREEDING A WILD CANID OR FELINE WITH A DOMESTIC
CANID OR FELINE, AND THAT ANIMAL=S
PROGENY. "WOLF HYBRID" MEANS AN ANIMAL PRODUCED BY BREEDING
A WOLF WITH A DOMESTIC CANINE, AND THAT ANIMAL=S
PROGENY.
SECTION 2. No
appropriation. The general assembly has determined that this
act can be implemented within existing appropriation within the
department of agriculture, and therefore no separate appropriation
of state moneys is necessary to carry out the purposes of this
act.
SECTION 3. Safety
clause. The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and
declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservation
of the public peace, health, and safety.
____________________________ ____________________________
Tom Norton Charles E. Berry
PRESIDENT OF SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES
____________________________ ____________________________
Joan M. Albi Judith M. Rodrigue
SECRETARY OF CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE
THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APPROVED________________________________________
_________________________________________
Roy Romer
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO