Environment Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: HB-5293
AN ACT PROHIBITING THE USE OF WILD OR EXOTIC ANIMALS IN
Title: TRAVELING ANIMAL ACTS.
Vote Date: 3/28/2022
Vote Action: Joint Favorable Substitute
PH Date: 3/14/2022
File No.:
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
Rep. David K. Labriola, 131st Dist. Rep. David Michel, 146th Dist.
Rep. Anne M. Hughes, 135th Dist. Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria, 105th Dist.
Sen. Derek Slap, 5th Dist. Sen. Will Haskell, 26th Dist.
Rep. Michael A. Winkler, 56th Dist. Rep. Josh Elliott, 88th Dist.
Rep. Dorinda Borer, 115th Dist. Sen. Dennis A. Bradley, 23rd Dist.
Rep. Jason Doucette, 13th Dist. Rep. John K. Hampton, 16th Dist.
Rep. Robin Green, 55th Dist. Rep. Eleni Kavros DeGraw, 17th Dist.
Sen. Marilyn V. Moore, 22nd Dist. Rep. Lucy Dathan, 142nd Dist.
Rep. Gary A. Turco, 27th Dist. Rep. Laura M. Devlin, 134th Dist.
Rep. Brandon Chafee, 33rd Dist. Rep. Tony J. Scott, 112nd Dist.
Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, 18th Dist. Sen. Rick Lopes, 6th Dist.
Rep. John "Jack" F. Hennessy, 127th Dist. Rep. Edwin Vargas, 6th Dist.
REASONS FOR BILL:
To prohibit the use of wild and exotic animals in traveling circuses.
JOINT FAVORABLE SUBSTITUTE:
Exempted certain domestic animals from inclusion and established penalty as class C
misdemeanor.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
Katie S. Sykes, Commissioner of DEEP
DEEP has concerns with this proposed legislation. While they are deeply committed to the
conservation of all wildlife, native and exotic, the proposed legislation would create
administrative and enforcement challenges for the Department.
State of Connecticut Judicial Branch, External Affairs Division
The Judicial Branch takes no position on the policies furthered by the bill. However, we do
have a concern regarding implementation of the proposal as it is currently drafted.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Animal Defenders International, Christina Scaringe, General Counsel
Support HB 5293. It's narrowly drafted cost effective, and efficient way to safeguard animals,
workers, and the public from cruel and dangerous traveling wild animal acts.
Jo Anne Basile, Executive Director, CT Votes for Animals
CVA strongly supports HB 5293, with modifications. CVA Board member Karen Laski will
testify and articulate our concerns about the need to close a loophole in the raised bill.
Enid Breakstone, M.Ed., Executive Director, The Queenie Foundation
We support HB5293 because its time to end the use of wild animals in traveling shows. There
are 111 partial or full bans on performing animals in jurisdictions in the US, in 34 states.
Approximately, 35 countries have implemented a ban or restriction regarding the use of
animals for entertainment.
Liz Cabrera Holtz. Esq., Wildlife Campaign Manager, World Animal Protection
Animals used in circuses and traveling acts are deprived of the ability to engage in their
natural behaviors, resulting in severe physical and psychological suffering. Traveling acts
and circuses that use animals also pose serious risks to public health and safety. Action at
the state level is urgently needed.
Courtney Fern, Director of Government Relations, Nonhuman Rights Project
States across the nation are moving to prevent circuses and other traveling animal acts from
exploiting animals. This is an urgently needed step to help protect elephants, nonhuman
primates, and other wild animals from human caused harm.
Ann Gadwah, Advocacy and Outreach Organizer, Sierra Club Connecticut
Sierra Club supports HB5923 but we suggest changing the definition of wild and exotic
animal in section (1), (3) to include animals from any of the following classifications,
including hybrids with the following classifications, whether born in the wild or bred in
captivity: Canidae (except domestic dogs), cetartiodactyla, crocodilian, edentata,
elasmobranchil, felidea (except domestic cats) hyaenidae, marsupialia, nonhuman primates,
perissodactyla (except donkeys, horses, mules, and ponies), pinnipedian, Procyonidae,
ratites, spheniscidae, Ursidae, Varanidae, and Viverridae.
Annie Hornish, Connecticut Senior State Director, The Humane Society of the US
We support with Amendment HB 5293.Suggested amendments: 1. Line 33, remove "any
animal that is not domesticated.." 2. Line 17, replace "C" with "R". Research facilities, as
well as universities or colleges that conduct research using animals, do not hold class C
exhibitor licenses, but rather class R licenses. A class C license is for exhibitors, i.e.,
circuses, traveling tiger, bear and sea lion shows. Etc.
Page 2 of 4 HB-5293
Catherine Doyle, MS., Director of Science, Research and Advocacy, PAWS
Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) directly cares for captive elephants, big cats,
bears, and other wild animals and we strongly urge you to support HB5293. Animal acts do
not educate children or help conserve endangered species. Rather, they distort the public's
perception of wild animals and their imperiled status in the wild.
Melanie Lary, Research and Campaigns Officer, FOUR PAWS
HB 5293 would provide captive wild animals in Connecticut with the necessary and overdue
protection against cruelty. Stuck in inhospitable conditions, these wild animals are forced to
adapt to abnormal surroundings and perform unnatural behaviors.
John Madigan, Steering Committee Chair, Big Cat Sanctuary Alliance
BCSA supports HB 5293 to protect the animals and the public. Wild animal acts do not not
educate the public or help conservations efforts. There is no educational value in displaying
big cats who have been denied all that is natural to them and are forced through coercion to
perform tricks.
Thompson G. Page, General Counsel The Center Animal Litigation
Supports HB 5293 This is the foundation of the ethics and morals which banning the
inhumane treatment of animals in zoo and traveling shows would uphold.
Leah Haut, Bridgeport, CT
I am the individual who spearheaded the successful campaign for a city pan on the use of
wild and exotic animals in Bridgeport, CT in 2018, which was passed unanimously by the 19
members of its City Council. Thank you for your support of this legislation. Cruelty to
animals does not provide wholesome family entertainment, nor does it provide any
educational content whatsoever.
Over 75 Citizens sent in letters of support for HB 5293
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
Tim Commerford, R.W. Commerford & Sons
We oppose HB 5293. R.W, Commerford and Sons have been in the animal industry exotic
and domesticated for over 60 years in CT. We take great pride in exhibiting our animals for
all type of venues. This ill will be detrimental to the family farm here in Goshen CT. The
education of seeing these magnificent animals would be lost because the best way to raise
awareness is to physically see, touch, and interact with them.
Michael Z. Siavakas, Owner, New England Herpetoculture
We oppose HB5293 because as its written will prevent my experienced and well qualified
team from offering Animal Education Programs to public school students. The way the bill is
written will destroy animal education in the state of Connecticut.
Warren H. Treacher, President, Sun Mountain Oil and Gas,
This bill is far-reaching and rife with unintended consequences, including making criminals
out of dedicated individuals who responsibly conduct educational programs with animals
Page 3 of 4 HB-5293
Phil Gross, United States Association of Reptile Keepers
USARK is a fierce advocate for responsible animal ownership. It is unreasonable to punish
those engaging in conscientious animal husbandry and outreach with such misguided
attempt to crack down upon those who are negligent. Traveling and teaching with animals is
not in any way inherently cruel when done responsibly. Ambassador animals featured in
educational presentations that are kept under human care by respectable wardens are not
living a life of suffering.
13 Citizens sent in letters of opposition to HB5293
Reported by: Judith Ganswindt Date: April 5, 2022
Page 4 of 4 HB-5293