Connecticut General Statutes 19a-102a – Regulation of sale of turtles
(a) As used in this section, “turtle” means any reptile commonly known as turtles, tortoises or terrapins but shall not include a turtle used solely for agricultural, scientific or educational purposes.
Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 19a-102a
- aquaculture: means the farming of the waters of the state and tidal wetlands and the production of protein food, including fish, oysters, clams, mussels and other molluscan shellfish, on leased, franchised and public underwater farm lands. See Connecticut General Statutes 1-1
- farm: includes farm buildings, and accessory buildings thereto, nurseries, orchards, ranges, greenhouses, hoophouses and other temporary structures or other structures used primarily for the raising and, as an incident to ordinary farming operations, the sale of agricultural or horticultural commodities. See Connecticut General Statutes 1-1
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- License: includes the whole or part of any Department of Public Health permit, approval or similar form of permission required by the general statutes and which further requires: (A) Practice of the profession by licensed persons only. See Connecticut General Statutes 19a-13
(b) No turtle with a carapace length of less than four inches or with viable turtle eggs may be sold in this state.
(c) No person may sell a live turtle with a carapace length of four inches or greater unless (1) a caution notice is posted by the person selling turtles which warns that the transmission of salmonella disease by turtles is possible; (2) at the time of the sale of the turtle, the seller furnishes the buyer with a copy of the caution notice and information obtained from a veterinarian regarding the proper care and feeding for the species of turtle which is being sold; (3) the buyer signs a form stating that he has read the notice provided if the buyer is less than sixteen years of age, such form shall be signed by a parent or guardian; (4) the turtle is not a species identified by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection as endangered, threatened or of special concern in regulations adopted under § 26-306; and (5) the seller receives, and retains on file for inspection by the Commissioner of Agriculture, written verification that such turtle was bred at a licensed commercial fish farm or commercial aquaculture facility and was not collected from the wild.
(d) Any person who violates any provision of this section or § 19a-102b shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars. The Commissioner of Agriculture may suspend the pet shop license of any pet shop, as defined in § 22-327, which violates any provision of this section or § 19a-102b.
(e) On or before October 1, 1996, the Commissioner of Public Health shall evaluate the public health effect of the sale of turtles in this state and shall submit a report of his findings to the General Assembly.
(f) The Commissioner of Public Health may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to carry out the provisions of this section.