SENATE, No. 2195

By Mr. Morrissey, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2195) of Michael W. Morrissey and Robert J. Nyman for legislation relative to the sale of unweaned birds. Community Development & Small Business.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

In the Year Two Thousand and Five.

AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE SALE UNWEANED BIRDS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section136A of Chapter 140 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 official edition is hereby amended by inserting after the definition of “shelter” with the following:-

“Unweaned Bird”, A bird who is not accustomed to feeding itself without its mother being present.

            Section 2. Section 138A of Chapter 140 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 official edition, is hereby amended by inserting after line 32 the following new paragraph:-

            No commercial establishment, pet shop, firm or corporation shall import into the commonwealth for sale or resale in the commonwealth any Unweaned Bird; provided that the Department of Food and Agriculture shall determine when Unweaned birds shall be deemed eligible for sale; provided further that the Department of Food and Agriculture shall promulgate rules and regulations as to what age and size each species of bird must be before said Unweaned Bird can be sold or transported into the Commonwealth; provided further that said rules and regulations shall be reviewed on an annual basis.