1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to animals; modifying restrictions on possession of certain animals; 
1.3 	providing criminal penalties;amending Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 
1.4 	346.155, subdivisions 1, 4, 5, 10, by adding a subdivision.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 346.155, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) The definitions in this subdivision apply to this 
1.8 	section.
1.9 	(b) "Person" means any natural person, firm, partnership, corporation, or association, 
1.10 	however organized.
1.11 	(c) "Wildlife sanctuary" means a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that:
1.12 	(1) operates a place of refuge where abused, neglected, unwanted, impounded, 
1.13 	abandoned, orphaned, or displaced wildlife are provided care for their lifetime;
1.14 	(2) does not conduct any commercial activity with respect to any animal of which 
1.15 	the organization is an owner; and
1.16 	(3) does not buy, sell, trade, auction, lease, loan, or breed any animal of which the 
1.17 	organization is an owner, except as an integral part of the species survival plan of the 
1.18 	American Zoo and Aquarium Association.
1.19 	(d) "Possess" means to own, care for, have custody of, or control.
1.20 	(e) "Regulated animal" means:
1.21 	(1) all members of the Felidae family including, but not limited to, lions, tigers, 
1.22 	cougars, leopards, cheetahs, ocelots, and servals, but not including domestic cats or cats 
1.23 	recognized as a domestic breed, registered as a domestic breed, and shown as a domestic 
1.24 	breed by a national or international multibreed cat registry association;
2.1 	(2) bears; and
2.2 	(3) all nonhuman primates, including, but not limited to, lemurs, monkeys, 
2.3 	chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, marmosets, lorises, and tamarins.
2.4 	Regulated animal includes any hybrid or cross between an animal listed in clause 
2.5 	(1), (2), or (3) and a domestic animal and offspring from all subsequent generations of 
2.6 	those crosses or hybrids.
2.7 	(f) "Local animal control authority" means an agency of the state, county, 
2.8 	municipality, or other governmental subdivision of the state that is responsible for animal 
2.9 	control operations in its jurisdiction.
2.10 	(g) "Bodily harm," "substantial bodily harm," and "great bodily harm" have the 
2.11 	meanings given them in section 609.02.

2.12 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 346.155, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
2.13 		Subd. 4.Requirements. (a) A person who possesses a regulated animal must 
2.14 	maintain health and ownership records on each animal and must maintain the records 
2.15 	for the life of the animal. If possession of the regulated animal is transferred to another 
2.16 	person, a copy of the health and ownership records must accompany the animal.
2.17 	(b) A person who possesses a regulated animal must maintain an ongoing program 
2.18 	of veterinary care which includes a veterinary visit to the premises at least annually.
2.19 	(c) A person who possesses a regulated animal must notify the local animal control 
2.20 	authority in writing within ten days of a change in address or location where the regulated 
2.21 	animal is kept. The notification of change in address or location form must be prepared by 
2.22 	the Minnesota Animal Control Association and approved by the Board of Animal Health. 
2.23 	(d) A person with a United States Department of Agriculture license for regulated 
2.24 	animals shall forward a copy of the United States Department of Agriculture inspection 
2.25 	report to the local animal control authority within 30 days of receipt of the inspection 
2.26 	report.
2.27 	(e) A person who possesses a regulated animal shall prominently display a sign on 
2.28 	the structure where the animal is housed indicating that a dangerous  regulated animal 
2.29 	is on the premises.
2.30 	(f) A person who possesses a regulated animal must notify, as soon as practicable, 
2.31 	local law enforcement officials of any escape of a regulated animal. The person who 
2.32 	possesses the regulated animal is liable for any costs incurred by any person, city, county, 
2.33 	or state agency resulting from the escape of a regulated animal unless the escape is due to 
2.34 	a criminal act by another person or a natural event.
3.1 	(g) A person who possesses a regulated animal must maintain a written recovery 
3.2 	plan in the event of the escape of a regulated animal. The person must maintain live traps, 
3.3 	or other equipment necessary to assist in the recovery of the regulated animal.
3.4 	(h) If requested by the local animal control authority, A person may not move a 
3.5 	regulated animal from its location unless the person notifies the local animal control 
3.6 	authority prior to moving the animal. The notification must include the date and the 
3.7 	location where the animal is  to be moved. This paragraph does not apply to a regulated 
3.8 	animal transported to a licensed veterinarian.
3.9 	(i) If a person who possesses a regulated animal can no longer care for the animal, 
3.10 	the person shall take steps to find long-term placement for the regulated animal.

3.11 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 346.155, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
3.12 		Subd. 5.Seizure. (a) The local animal control authority, upon issuance of a 
3.13 	notice of inspection, must be granted access at reasonable times to sites where the local 
3.14 	animal control authority has reason to believe a violation of this chapter is occurring or 
3.15 	has occurred.
3.16 	(b) If a person who possesses a regulated animal is not in compliance with the 
3.17 	requirements of this section, the local animal control authority shall take possession of the 
3.18 	animal for custody and care, provided that the procedures in this subdivision are followed.
3.19 	(c) Upon request of a person possessing a regulated animal, the local animal control 
3.20 	authority may allow the animal to remain in the physical custody of the owner for 30 days, 
3.21 	during which time the owner shall take all necessary actions to come in compliance with 
3.22 	this section. During the 30-day period, the local animal control authority may inspect, at 
3.23 	any reasonable time, the premises where the animal is kept.
3.24 	(d) If a person who possesses a regulated animal is not in compliance with this 
3.25 	section following the 30-day period described in paragraph (c), the local animal control 
3.26 	authority shall seize the animal and place it in a holding facility that is appropriate for the 
3.27 	species for up to ten days. 
3.28 	(e) The authority taking custody of an animal under this section shall provide a 
3.29 	notice of the seizure by delivering or mailing it to the owner, by posting a copy of it at 
3.30 	the place where the animal is taken into custody, or by delivering it to a person residing 
3.31 	on the property. The notice must include:
3.32 	(1) a description of the animal seized; the authority for and purpose of the seizure; 
3.33 	the time, place, and circumstances under which the animal was seized; and a contact 
3.34 	person and telephone number;
4.1 	(2) a statement that a person from whom a regulated animal was seized may post 
4.2 	security to prevent disposition of the animal and may request a hearing concerning the 
4.3 	seizure and that failure to do so within five business days of the date of the notice will 
4.4 	result in disposition of the animal;
4.5 	(3) a statement that actual costs of the care, keeping, and disposal of the regulated 
4.6 	animal are the responsibility of the person from whom the animal was seized, except to 
4.7 	the extent that a court or hearing officer finds that the seizure or impoundment was not 
4.8 	substantially justified by law; and
4.9 	(4) a form that can be used by a person from whom a regulated animal was seized 
4.10 	for requesting a hearing under this subdivision.
4.11 	(e) (f) If a person from whom the regulated animal was seized makes a request 
4.12 	within five business days of the seizure, a hearing must be held within five business days 
4.13 	of the request to determine the validity of the seizure and disposition of the animal. The 
4.14 	judge or hearing officer may authorize the return of the animal to the person from whom 
4.15 	the animal was seized if the judge or hearing officer finds:
4.16 	(1) that the person can and will provide the care required by law for the regulated 
4.17 	animal; and
4.18 	(2) the regulated animal is physically fit.
4.19 	(f) (g) If a judge or hearing officer orders a permanent disposition of the regulated 
4.20 	animal, the local animal control authority may take steps to find long-term placement for 
4.21 	the animal with a wildlife sanctuary, persons authorized by the Department of Natural 
4.22 	Resources, or an appropriate United States Department of Agriculture licensed facility.
4.23 	(g) (h) A person from whom a regulated animal is seized is liable for all actual costs 
4.24 	of care, keeping, and disposal of the animal, except to the extent that a court or hearing 
4.25 	officer finds that the seizure was not substantially justified by law. The costs must be paid 
4.26 	in full or a mutually satisfactory arrangement for payment must be made between the 
4.27 	local animal control authority and the person claiming an interest in the animal before 
4.28 	return of the animal to the person.
4.29 	(h) (i) A person from whom a regulated animal has been seized under this 
4.30 	subdivision may prevent disposition of the animal by posting security in the amount 
4.31 	sufficient to provide for the actual costs of care and keeping of the animal. The security 
4.32 	must be posted within five business days of the seizure, inclusive of the day of the seizure.
4.33 	(i) (j) If circumstances exist threatening the life of a person or the life of any animal, 
4.34 	local law enforcement or the local animal control authority shall may seize a regulated 
4.35 	animal without an opportunity for hearing or court order, or destroy the animal.

5.1 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 346.155, is amended by adding a subdivision 
5.2 	to read:
5.3 		Subd. 9a.Confinement and control. A person violates this subdivision who 
5.4 	possesses a regulated animal and negligently fails to control the animal or keep it properly 
5.5 	confined and as a result the animal causes bodily harm, substantial bodily harm, or great 
5.6 	bodily harm to another person.

5.7 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 346.155, subdivision 10, is amended to read:
5.8 		Subd. 10.Penalty.  (a) A person who knowingly violates subdivision 2, 3,  paragraph 
5.9 	(b) or (c), or 4 is guilty of a misdemeanor.
5.10 	(b) A person who knowingly violates subdivision 3, paragraph (a), is guilty of a 
5.11 	gross misdemeanor.
5.12 	(c) A person who violates subdivision 9a, resulting in bodily harm is guilty of a 
5.13 	misdemeanor and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 90 days or to 
5.14 	payment of a fine of not more than $1,000, or both.
5.15 	(d) A person who violates subdivision 9a, resulting in substantial bodily harm is 
5.16 	guilty of a gross misdemeanor and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than 
5.17 	one year or to payment of a fine of not more than $3,000, or both.
5.18 	(e) A person who violates subdivision 9a, resulting in great bodily harm or death 
5.19 	is guilty of a felony and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than two years 
5.20 	or to payment of a fine of not more than $5,000, or both, unless a greater penalty is 
5.21 	provided elsewhere.

5.22 	Sec. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 5.23 	Sections 1 to 5 are effective August 1, 2006, and apply to crimes committed on or 
5.24 	after that date.