Overview

Title

To amend the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to prohibit certain activities involving prohibited primate species, and for other purposes.

ELI5 AI

The bill wants to stop people from bringing in or trading certain monkeys, like chimpanzees and gorillas, with some special rules for research places. It also says these animals can't have babies anymore and must be registered so people can keep track of them.

Summary AI

The bill S. 4206 is designed to amend the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to make certain activities involving prohibited primate species illegal in the United States. Under this Act, it would be unlawful to import, export, transport, sell, or possess nonhuman primates like chimpanzees and gorillas, with some exceptions for scientific research facilities and entities that already possess such species before the enactment of the law. The bill also mandates the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to register these animals, ensuring no direct public contact with them and prohibits any further breeding or acquisition of these species after the law is passed. Additionally, the bill calls for the Secretary of the Interior to develop regulations within 180 days to enforce the new prohibitions.

Published

2024-04-30
Congress: 118
Session: 2
Chamber: SENATE
Status: Introduced in Senate
Date: 2024-04-30
Package ID: BILLS-118s4206is

Keywords AI

lacey act primate species import export prohibition captive primate safety act u.s. fish and wildlife service enforcement mechanisms penalties scientific research exception secretary of the interior public contact prohibition

Sources

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
2
Words:
1,112
Pages:
6
Sentences:
15

Language

Nouns: 300
Verbs: 106
Adjectives: 43
Adverbs: 8
Numbers: 46
Entities: 46

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.07
Average Sentence Length:
74.13
Token Entropy:
4.72
Readability (ARI):
38.01

AnalysisAI

Summary of the Bill

The bill titled the "Captive Primate Safety Act," seeks to modify the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 by introducing new restrictions on activities involving certain primate species. It specifically targets the import, export, transport, breeding, and possession of "prohibited primate species," which encompass a wide array of nonhuman primates like chimpanzees, gorillas, and monkeys. The bill outlines exceptions for specific cases, such as official research facilities and transport entities, provided they adhere to strict guidelines like registration with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Significant Issues

Several key issues emerge from this bill. First, there is a concern related to animals born before the enactment date of the Act. Entities may attempt to exploit this clause by misreporting birth dates, thus circumventing the restrictions. Without robust enforcement mechanisms, this loophole could undermine the bill's objectives.

Moreover, the bill states that even if the necessary regulations are not timely promulgated by the Secretary of the Interior, it will still be enforceable. However, this clause may invite legal challenges, creating uncertainty about enforcement.

Another significant issue involves potential resource constraints. The bill does not address the budgetary implications or allocate additional resources for enforcing compliance, such as the responsibilities of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, which could lead to gaps in execution.

The bill also relies heavily on technical language and legal specifications, which might pose comprehension challenges for individuals not familiar with such terminology. This complexity could impact various stakeholders' ability to fully understand and comply with the bill.

Impact on the Public

Broadly, the bill aims to address concerns regarding the welfare and safety of primates, as well as issues related to public safety by reducing potentially harmful interactions between humans and nonhuman primates. It represents a step towards stricter regulatory control, potentially resulting in decreased illegal trade and better protection for these species.

However, these regulations could also affect various sectors. The transport and exhibition industries, for example, might face new hurdles and operational changes due to the restrictive nature of the bill. While the emphasis on public safety and environmental protection is commendable, the practical implications of enforcing such regulations could pose significant challenges, especially if regulatory bodies lack sufficient resources.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

For specific stakeholders, such as research facilities, the bill's provisions offer a clear pathway to compliance by permitting the use of prohibited primate species for scientific purposes if registered with the Department of Agriculture. These facilities, however, need to carefully navigate registration requirements to continue their work legally.

Entities involved in transport and exhibition of primates might face considerable operational adjustments to adhere to the law. They are required not only to register existing animals but also to halt any further acquisition or breeding, leading to potential financial and logistical strain.

Enforcement agencies like the United States Fish and Wildlife Service will likely bear a heavy responsibility in terms of oversight and compliance monitoring. Ensuring sufficient resources to manage these new obligations is crucial for the successful implementation of the bill.

Overall, while the Captive Primate Safety Act introduces important measures to address ethical and safety concerns around primate species, careful consideration and strategic planning will be necessary to mitigate potential legal and operational challenges that it introduces.

Issues

  • The exception in Section 2(b)(2)(E)(i) for animals born before the enactment date may encourage entities to circumvent the law by misreporting birth dates unless strict enforcement mechanisms are in place. This could undermine the intention of the law to control the possession and trading of prohibited primate species.

  • The enforceability clause in Section 2(c)(2) might lead to legal challenges if regulations are not timely promulgated by the Secretary of the Interior. Although the amendments mention that enforceability will not be affected by a failure to promulgate regulations, this might still pose legal risks.

  • The amendments introduce penalties and enforcement measures without discussing the budgetary implications or resource allocations necessary to ensure compliance, which could lead to concerns about under-enforcement, particularly given the need for registration with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

  • The definition of 'prohibited primate species' in Section 2(a) is clear under current taxonomic classifications; however, it may require updates if future classifications change. This could impact the effectiveness and clarity of the bill over time.

  • The bill involves technical language, such as legal citations and specific definitions, which might be complex for non-specialists to understand. This could raise comprehension issues for certain stakeholders, particularly those who are not familiar with legal or scientific terminology.

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Short title Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The first section of the Act states that it can be called the "Captive Primate Safety Act."

2. Prohibition of certain activities involving prohibited primate species Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The text makes changes to the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 by defining "prohibited primate species" and making it illegal to deal with these animals in activities like import, export, transport, and breeding. Exceptions are outlined for certain entities including research facilities, those who transport these species, or possess them before certain dates, as long as they follow strict rules like registration and not allowing public contact.