Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 131 § 19C

Current through Chapters 1 to 249 and Chapters 253 to 255 of the 2024 Legislative Session

Section 131:19C - [Effective 1/1/2025] Use of elephants, big cats, primates, giraffes and bears in traveling exhibits and shows

(a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

"Covered animal", any of the following animals or hybrids thereof:

(i) elephantidae;

(ii) lions (panthera leo), tigers (panthera tigris), leopards (panthera pardus), clouded leopards (neofelis nebulosa and neofelis diardi), snow leopards (panthera uncia), jaguars (panthera onca), cheetahs (acinonyx jubatus), mountain lions (puma concolor);

(iii) non-human primates;

(iv) ursidae; and

(v) giraffidae.

"Mobile or traveling housing facility", any vehicle used to transport or house covered animals while traveling for a performance, including, but not limited to, trucks, trailers or railway cars.

"Performance", any presentation, exposition, fair, animal act, circus, ride, trade show, petting zoo, carnival, parade, race or similar undertaking in which a covered animal is required to perform tricks, give rides or participate as an accompaniment or be available for the entertainment, amusement or benefit of a live audience.

"Resident animal", an animal owned, leased or loaned and otherwise exclusively housed at a non-mobile, permanent institution or other fixed facility.

"Traveling animal act", any performance where a covered animal is transported to, from or between locations for the purpose of the performance in a mobile or traveling housing facility.

(b) Notwithstanding section 77B of chapter 272, no person shall allow for or cause the participation of a covered animal in a traveling animal act.

(c) This section shall not apply:

(i) to a performance that takes place at a non-mobile, permanent institution or other fixed facility if the covered animal is a resident animal at the same facility in which the performance takes place;

(ii) during the filming of a motion picture by a motion picture production company, as defined in section 38X of chapter 63, that has obtained any permits required by law, if the use does not involve a live public animal exhibition;

(iii) to the transport of a covered animal for the purpose of veterinary care by a licensed veterinarian, including, but not limited to, examination, testing, individual treatment or operation; or

(iv) to the transport of a covered animal from 1 non-mobile, permanent institution or other fixed facility to another for purposes of becoming a resident animal.

(d) A person who violates this chapter shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $500 and not more than $10,000 per animal involved in the violation.

(e) An officer or agent authorized by the executive office of energy and environmental affairs, a law enforcement officer of the commonwealth or law enforcement officer of any unit of local government in the commonwealth may enforce this section.

(f) The director of the division of fisheries and wildlife may adopt rules necessary for the administration and implementation of this section.

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 131, § 131:19C

Added by Acts 2024, c. 168,§ 1, eff. 1/1/2025.