Committee advances bill to establish wildlife rehabilitation permit program

House Bill 2836 would add a new article to the Natural Resources Code to establish a wildlife rehabilitation program administered by the Division of Natural Resources (DNR). The program would create a permitting system allowing qualified persons to hold wildlife temporarily for the purpose of rehabilitation, set minimum qualifications and training, require veterinary consultation, list prohibited activities, and allow the DNR director to promulgate rules to implement and enforce the program. The committee voted to report the engrossed committee substitute to the full Senate with a recommendation that it pass, with referral to the Committee on Finance.

Committee counsel summarized the bill’s major provisions, including a requirement that persons possess a wildlife rehabilitation permit to hold orphaned, sick, or injured wildlife (with limited exceptions for veterinarians and holders of U.S. Fish and Wildlife migratory bird permits), requirements for training and…