68-5.004: Amnesty for Persons Relinquishing Non-native Pets
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The proposed rule establishes an amnesty program for the adoption of nonnative animals to help prevent illegal release of non-native fish and wildlife.
SUMMARY: The rule establishes the formation of an amnesty program for unwanted nonnative pets and allows certified adopters to receive non-native fish and wildlife from unpermitted persons without penalty.
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, September 17-19, 2008, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., each day
PLACE: 1039 Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, 225 East Coast Line Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32202
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 (850)488-6411. 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: James V. Antista, General Counsel, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600, (850)487-1764
THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:
68-5.004 Amnesty for Persons Relinquishing Non-native Pets.
It is the policy of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to encourage persons possessing unwanted non-native fish or wildlife as pets to relinquish such pets to qualified adopters as an alternative to releasing them into Florida’s environment. In furtherance of this policy, the Commission will sponsor amnesty events for such purpose.
(1) Persons adopting nonnative species through an FWC sponsored amnesty event may accept nonnative fish or wildlife from persons who have not obtained a permit from the Commission for possession of such fish or wildlife.
(2) State and county wildlife control agencies may accept non-native fish and wildlife from persons who have not obtained a permit from the Commission for possession of such fish or wildlife.
(3) Any person relinquishing or adopting non-native fish or wildlife pursuant to this rule is hereby deemed not to be in violation of the permit requirement of subsection 68A-6.0021(2), F.A.C.
Specific Authority Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution. Law Implemented Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution. History– New________.
BE ADVISED THAT THESE PROPOSED RULES MAY BE FILED FOR ADOPTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FOLLOWING THE COMMISSION MEETING AT WHICH THEY ARE CONSIDERED IF THE RULES ARE NOT CHANGED. IF CHANGED, THE RULES MAY BE FILED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER PUBLICATION OF A NOTICE OF CHANGE IN THE F.A.W.