SB 64

Under existing law, the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources enforces and administers all laws providing for the preservation, protection, propagation, and development of all specifies of wildlife

This bill would prohibit the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Advisory Board of Conservation and Natural Resources from prohibiting or limiting the use of any species of rattlesnake used in certain events hosted in certain municipalities

Relating to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources; to provide legislative findings; to prohibit the commissioner and the Advisory Board of Conservation and Natural Resources from prohibiting or limiting the use of any species of rattlesnake used in certain events hosted by municipalities.

Section 1

The Legislature finds and declares the following: (1) All species of rattlesnake in the family of Viperidae are entitled to zones of protection and refuge in designated ares of the State of Alabama. (2) In those zones of refuge the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Advisory Board of Conservation and Natural Resources shall have no authority to prohibit or otherwise limit in any way the use or display of rattlesnakes. (3) The first zone of refuge shall be the City of Opp which is home to the Rattlesnake Rodeo which has been in continuous annual operation since 1960.

Section 2

Notwithstanding the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources' authority to enforce and administer all laws providing for the preservation, protection, propagation, and development of all species of wildlife as provided in Section 9-2-7, Code of Alabama 1975, and notwithstanding the commissioner's rulemaking authority to carry out these duties and the Advisory Board of Conservation and Natural Resource's authority to amend rules of the commissioner, the commissioner or the advisory board may not prohibit or otherwise limit in any way the use of any species of rattlesnake in the family of Viperidae used for the purposes of a festival or community event hosted in a municipality with a population of less than 7,000 residents according to the 2010 federal census that features all of the following: (1) Exhibitions or educational or other activities using, or relating to, rattlesnakes. (2) Entertainment. (3) Arts and crafts. (4) Food vendors.

Section 3

This act shall become effective immediately following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.