Expedited Departure of Certain Snake Species Act

Expedited Departure of Certain Snake Species Act - Eases restrictions on transporting invasive animals under the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 for the transport of the Burmese python, Indian python, Northern African python, Southern African python, and Yellow anaconda. Allows an intermediate stop during the transport of those snakes if: (1) the stop is made in a designated airport in the course of transport that begins at a designated airport and ends at a place outside of the United States no later than 48 hours after the transport begins, (2) the transport does not include a stop in Hawaii, or (3) the snake is in a qualified secure container during transport between aircraft used to transport the snake outside of the United States.

[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2158 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2158

 To exempt from the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 the expedited removal 
    from the United States of certain snake species, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 23, 2013

 Mr. Fleming introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To exempt from the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 the expedited removal 
    from the United States of certain snake species, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Expedited Departure of Certain Snake 
Species Act''.

SEC. 2. COMPLIANCE WITH LACEY ACT.

    (a) In General.--For purposes of the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 
(16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.), a qualified stop of a covered snake shall not 
be treated as occurring in interstate commerce.
    (b) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Covered snake.--The term ``covered snake'' means any--
                    (A) Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus);
                    (B) Indian python (Python molurus molurus);
                    (C) Northern African python (Python sebae);
                    (D) Southern African python (Python natalensis); 
                and
                    (E) Yellow anaconda (Eunectes notaeus).
            (2) Designated airport.--The term ``designated airport'' 
        means an airport located at a designated port as defined by the 
        United States Fish and Wildlife Service under section 14.12 of 
        title 50, Code of Federal Regulations.
            (3) Qualified stop.--The term ``qualified stop''--
                    (A) except as provided in subparagraph (C), means 
                any intermediate stop in an airport of a covered snake 
                in a secure container in the course of transport of 
                such snake that--
                            (i) begins in a designated airport; and
                            (ii) ends at a place outside of the United 
                        States not later than 48 hours after such 
                        transport begins;
                    (B) may include--
                            (i) such a stop at an airport that is not a 
                        designated airport, to refuel or take on 
                        additional cargo or passengers; or
                            (ii) transfer of the secure container in an 
                        airport between aircraft used for such 
                        transport outside of the United States; and
                    (C) does not include any stop in Hawaii.
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