Film production wildlife permits; release

(a)(1) For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘‘film production’’ means the creation of film, video, or digital projects in this state, including, but not limited to, the creation of feature films, documentaries, series, pilots, movies for television, advertisements, music videos, and interactive entertainment. (2) It shall be unlawful for any person to keep, hold, or possess any wildlife in captivity for film production purposes or to otherwise provide wildlife for use in film production without first procuring a film production wildlife permit as provided in Code Section 27-2-23. No wildlife may be possessed by the applicant prior to a film production wildlife permit being granted by the department, unless such wildlife was legally possessed by the applicant prior to the grant of the permit. The department may impose conditions on such permit requiring adequate sanitation facilities, housing, and feed for the 77 27-2-13.1 GAME AND FISH 27-2-15 animals and insuring the safety of the public in accordance with regulations promulgated by the board. (3) A permit issued pursuant to this subsection shall authorize the permit holder to transport, possess, or transfer wildlife for any permitted purpose related to film production; provided, however, that possession of a permit shall not exempt the holder from any other local, state, or federal requirements. (b) It shall be unlawful for any person holding any wildlife in captivity pursuant to a permit issued in accordance with this Code section to release the wildlife from captivity or to house or maintain the wildlife in such a manner as to pose a reasonable possibility that the wildlife may be released accidentally or escape from captivity. (Code 1981, § 27-2-13.1, enacted by Ga. L. 2016, p. 432, § 4/HB 840.) Effective date. — This Code section became effective July 1, 2016. Editor’s notes. — Ga. L. 2016, p. 432, § 6/HB 840, not codified by the General Assembly, provides: ‘‘This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2016, and shall apply to all offenses occurring on or after such date.’’ 27-2-14. (For effective date, see note.) Liberation-of-wildlife and liberation-of-domestic fish permits. It shall be unlawful for any person to liberate any wildlife within this state or to liberate domestic fish except into private ponds except under permit from the department; provided, however, that pen raised quail may be released for purposes of training pointing, flushing, and retrieving dogs. (Ga. L. 1968, p. 497, § 20; Code 1933, § 45-315, enacted by Ga. L. 1977, p. 396, § 1; Ga. L. 1994, p. 600, § 2; Ga. L. 2002, p. 807, § 1; Ga. L. 2004, p. 948, § 2-3.) Delayed effective date. — Ga. L. 2004, p. 948, § 3-1(c), provides that the 2004 amendment becomes effective only upon the effective date of a specific appropriation of funds for purposes of that Act as expressed in a line item of an appropriations Act enacted by the General Assembly. This Code section, as amended, is not set out in the Code owing to the delayed effective date. Funds were not appropriated at the 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, or 2018 session of the General Assembly. After the appropriation is made this Code section will read as follows: ‘‘It shall be unlawful for any person to liberate any wildlife within this state or to liberate domestic fish or pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) except into private ponds, except under permit from the department; provided, however, that pen raised quail may be released for purposes of training pointing, flushing, and retrieving dogs.’’ 27-2-15. Wildlife storage permits.