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| To enact sections 1531.40 to 1531.44 of the Revised | 1 |
| Code to require nuisance wild animal control | 2 |
| companies and individuals who provide nuisance | 3 |
| wild animal removal or control services to be | 4 |
| licensed by the Director of Natural Resources. | 5 |
| Section 1. That sections 1531.40, 1531.41, 1531.42, 1531.43, | 6 |
| and 1531.44 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows: | 7 |
| Sec. 1531.40. As used in sections 1531.40 to 1531.44 of the | 8 |
| Revised Code: | 9 |
| (A) "Nuisance wild animal" means a wild animal that is | 10 |
| causing a threat to public safety or that may cause damage or harm | 11 |
| to a structure, property, or person. | 12 |
| (B) "Nuisance wild animal control company" means a business | 13 |
| that provides nuisance wild animal removal or control services for | 14 |
| hire to the owner or operator of property or a structure. | 15 |
| Sec. 1531.41. (A) No person shall own or operate a nuisance | 16 |
| wild animal control company without obtaining a license from the | 17 |
| director of natural resources for each location that is owned or | 18 |
| operated by the person in this state. The license shall be renewed | 19 |
| annually prior to the first day of March and shall expire on the | 20 |
| last day of February. An applicant shall pay a license fee of one | 21 |
| hundred dollars for each license that the applicant obtains. | 22 |
| (B)(1) The owner or operator of a nuisance wild animal | 23 |
| control company shall employ only individuals who are licensed | 24 |
| under section 1531.42 of the Revised Code to provide removal or | 25 |
| control services. | 26 |
| (2) The owner or operator of a nuisance wild animal control | 27 |
| company is responsible for the acts of each of the company's | 28 |
| employees in the removal or control of a nuisance wild animal. | 29 |
| (C) If a pesticide is used by a nuisance wild animal control | 30 |
| company in the removal or control of a nuisance wild animal, the | 31 |
| owner or operator of the company shall obtain the appropriate | 32 |
| license under Chapter 921. of the Revised Code. Upon obtaining a | 33 |
| license under that chapter, the owner or operator shall so notify | 34 |
| the director. | 35 |
| Sec. 1531.42. No individual shall provide nuisance wild | 36 |
| animal removal or control services for hire in the state without | 37 |
| obtaining a license to do so from the director of natural | 38 |
| resources. The license shall be renewed annually prior to the | 39 |
| first day of March and shall expire on the last day of February. | 40 |
| An applicant shall pay a license fee of fifteen dollars. | 41 |
| If a pesticide is used by an individual in the removal or | 42 |
| control of a nuisance wild animal, the individual shall obtain the | 43 |
| appropriate license under Chapter 921. of the Revised Code. Upon | 44 |
| obtaining a license under that chapter, the individual shall so | 45 |
| notify the director. | 46 |
| Sec. 1531.43. The director of natural resources shall adopt | 47 |
| rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code | 48 |
| establishing license application procedures and requirements, | 49 |
| enforcement procedures, and any other procedures and requirements | 50 |
| that are necessary to implement sections 1531.41 to 1531.44 of the | 51 |
| Revised Code. | 52 |
| Sec. 1531.44. All money collected under sections 1531.41 and | 53 |
| 1531.42 of the Revised Code shall be deposited to the credit of | 54 |
| the nuisance wild animal control fund, which is hereby created in | 55 |
| the state treasury. Money in the fund shall be used by the | 56 |
| director of natural resources for the administration and | 57 |
| enforcement of sections 1531.41 to 1531.44 of the Revised Code. | 58 |