Senate Bill 2780

AN ACT TO REGULATE ENCLOSURES CONTAINING CERVIDS THAT ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE; TO REQUIRE FENCING RESTRICTIONS; TO REQUIRE OWNERS TO KEEP RECORDS; TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS TO DISPOSE OF ANIMALS UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) Any person who erects a fence that prevents the free egress of deer from an enclosed area shall notify and register with the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. The person shall give his name, the location of the enclosure, the acreage within the enclosure, and whether any deer have been imported into the state and placed in the enclosure, and any other information required by the Commissioner on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.

(2) Persons who constructed an enclosure prior to July 1, 2003, shall have until January 1, 2004, to notify and provide the information required under this section.

(3) Any person importing deer shall keep such detailed records as the department may require. The person shall use acceptable hunting and wildlife management practices as may be determined by the department.

(4) The department may test any white-tailed deer within the enclosure for chronic wasting disease or other disease, and department personnel are specifically granted the authority to enter such enclosures to conduct such inspections and tests. If any deer within an enclosure is diagnosed with chronic wasting disease, the department may depopulate the white-tailed deer within the enclosure.

(5) A violation of this section is a Class I violation and is punishable as provided in Section 49-7-141.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.