After incorporating several amendments, SB 310 passed out of House Agriculture Committee last night by a 17-4 vote (Boose, Buchy, Damschroder, and Hagan). Amendments include:
- Lower registration fees
- Creating an wild animal emergency response commission
- Allowing for municipal ordinances to adopt stricter regulations than the state
- Prohibiting the ODA Director from adding additional animals to the list in the future without the approval of the Ohio General Assembly
- Stipulating that owners of pygmy, white-tufted-ear, silvery and black penciled marmosets; squirrel monkeys; brown, white-faced, weeping and white-fronted capuchins; and lemurs must register their animal and abide by care guidelines. They would not be subject to fees or any other prohibitions or provisions of the bill including new ownership of the same.
The full House is expected to act on the bill next week, after which it will be sent to Gov. John Kasich for his signature.
