The bill expands Colorado’s wildlife trafficking laws to include species listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES Appendix I).
Key Provisions
Expansion of Covered Wildlife:
Wildlife trafficking laws will now apply to species listed in CITES Appendix I, which includes highly endangered species protected under international law.
Penalties for Wildlife Trafficking Violations:
Class 1 Misdemeanor: General violation of wildlife trafficking laws.
Class 5 Felony: If the wildlife involved is valued between $1,000 and $10,000.
Class 4 Felony (more severe penalties in these cases):
If the trafficked wildlife is an endangered or threatened species under Colorado law, the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, or CITES Appendix I.
If the value of the trafficked wildlife exceeds $10,000.
Suspension of Wildlife Licenses:
The Parks and Wildlife Commission in the Department of Natural Resources is granted authority to suspend the wildlife licenses of individuals convicted under wildlife trafficking laws.
Investigations & Enforcement Measures:
The Division of Parks and Wildlife must conduct investigations and surveys to collect data on wildlife trafficking.
Findings will be used to determine appropriate law enforcement actions against wildlife trafficking.
Summary
The bill adds species that appear in Appendix I to the Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES Appendix I) to the wildlife covered under Colorado's wildlife trafficking laws.
The bill establishes penalties for violating wildlife trafficking
laws. A person who violates wildlife trafficking laws commits a class 1 misdemeanor; except that:
•
If a person violates wildlife trafficking laws and the value of the wildlife involved is more than $1,000 but less than $10,000 the person commits a class 5 felony;
•
If a person is convicted of trafficking wildlife and the wildlife involved is an endangered species or threatened species under Colorado law, the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, or a species that appears in CITES Appendix I, the person commits a class 4 felony; or
•
If a person violates wildlife trafficking laws and the value of the wildlife involved is more than $10,000, the person commits a class 4 felony.
The bill grants the parks and wildlife commission in the
department of natural resources authority to suspend wildlife licenses held by a person convicted of a violation of wildlife trafficking laws.
The bill requires the division of parks and wildlife in the
department of natural resources to conduct investigations and surveys to collect information and data related to wildlife trafficking and determine appropriate law enforcement measures based on those investigations and surveys.
