Joe Lewis: Snake bill would have statewide impact

[Specialtyserpents]

We have seen nothing regarding House Bill 1354 in the news. I presume it is because of it being "rushed" through our political process and the fact that most people think only a few people are involved in the reptile industry. The latter is totally false.

In Louisiana alone, there are thousands of individuals involved in an ever-growing industry that keeps growing. Millions of individuals nationally are now part of the reptile industry. Sales of animals, cages and supplies are estimated to be in the millions annually.

With this said, this particular bill is emotionally driven because of the actions of one individual who refused to follow more than adequate Louisiana laws to get a permit for his over 12-foot constrictors, and so left the enforcement division of our Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries no option. Twenty-two non-permitted animals were seized by LDWF, and our organization assisted afterward in containing the animals and transporting them for temporary housing until the courts could decide their ultimate fate. Thus far, if LDWF is correct that it will take the courts up to six months to make a decision, this one incident will cost Louisiana taxpayers more than $10,000 for their care.

HB 1354, if passed as written, would compound that cost to taxpayers 10 to 100 times over to implement and enforce it!

It will also hinder our LARK, LGCHS and other exotic pet organizations from attracting future national and regional conventions and exotic animal expos to our state. This could be a total windfall in tourist dollars for Louisiana when our economy needs every dollar we can get.

With increased financial burdens on citizens, hobby breeders of reptiles and the reptile business support industry, HB 1354 would not accomplish anything to address the main problems it is intended to prevent.

The opposite could be true. It would cause problems throughout Louisiana; those with non-native species of reptiles and their owners would suffer financially. These non-native animals are not a threat in any way to our environment or any individuals or their pets. It takes years to keep, raise and breed them.

Please help get the word out about this reckless unscientific attempt of our Louisiana lawmakers to again place financial burdens on our state citizens and adversely burden our state economically.
Joe Lewis, of Denham Springs, is president of the Louisiana Association of Reptile Keepers Inc.
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/ ... 80343/1058

[amarilrose]

This seems to be the most up-to-date information on the progress of this bill from the Lousiana State legislature website:
http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/byinst.asp?sessionid=10RS&billid=HB1354

I'm reading that it was signed by the governor and is now "Act 855." What is the best way to have our voices heard on this topic at this point?

The page I linked above has several useful links below the text box. From there I found the version of the bill that is now Act 855:
http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=722766