(A) Division (A) of section 935.02 of the Revised Code does not apply to any of the following:

(1) A person to which all of the following apply:

(a) The person possesses a dangerous wild animal.

(b) The person has been issued a license by the United States department of agriculture under the federal animal welfare act.

(c) The director of agriculture has determined that the person is in the process of becoming an accredited member of the association of zoos and aquariums or the zoological association of America.

(d) The director has informed the person that the person is exempt from division (A) of section 935.02 of the Revised Code.

(2) An organization to which all of the following apply:

(a) The organization possesses a dangerous wild animal.

(b) The director has determined that the organization is in the process of being accredited or verified by the global federation of animal sanctuaries as a wildlife sanctuary.

(c) The director has informed the organization that it is exempt from division (A) of section 935.02 of the Revised Code.

(3) A person whose possession of a dangerous wild animal is authorized by an unexpired permit issued under this chapter.

(B) Except for the purposes of divisions (A) and (B) of section 935.04 of the Revised Code, this chapter does not apply to any of the following:

(1) A facility that is an accredited member of the association of zoos and aquariums or the zoological association of America and that is licensed by the United States department of agriculture under the federal animal welfare act;

(2) A research facility as defined in the federal animal welfare act;

(3) A research facility that is accredited by the association for the assessment and accreditation of laboratory animal care international;

(4) A circus;

(5) A wildlife rehabilitation facility that is issued a permit by the chief of the division of wildlife in rules adopted under section 1531.08 of the Revised Code and that rehabilitates dangerous wild animals or restricted snakes that are native to the state for the purpose of reintroduction into the wild;

(6) A veterinarian that is providing temporary veterinary care to a dangerous wild animal or restricted snake;

(7) A wildlife sanctuary;

(8) An individual who does not reside in this state, is traveling through this state with a dangerous wild animal or restricted snake, and does all of the following:

(a) Confines the animal or snake in a cage at all times;

(b) Confines the animal or snake in a cage that is not accessible to the public;

(c) Does not exhibit the animal or snake;

(d) Is in the state not more than forty-eight hours unless the animal or snake is receiving veterinary care.

(9) An educational institution that displays a single dangerous wild animal as a sports mascot and that meets all of the following criteria:

(a) An official of the educational institution has submitted an affidavit attesting that the institution will care for the animal as long as the animal lives and in a facility that is an accredited member of the association of zoos and aquariums or the zoological association of America.

(b) The educational institution maintains a liability insurance policy with an insurer authorized or approved to write such insurance in this state that covers claims for injury or damage to persons or property caused by a dangerous wild animal. The amount of the insurance coverage shall be not less than one million dollars.

(c) During display and transport, the educational institution confines the dangerous wild animal in a cage that does not permit physical contact between the animal and the public.

(d) The educational institution began displaying a dangerous wild animal as a mascot prior to September 5, 2012.

(10) Any person who has been issued a permit under section 1533.08 of the Revised Code, provided that the permit lists each specimen of wild animal that is a dangerous wild animal or restricted snake in the person's possession;

(11) Any person authorized to possess a dangerous wild animal or restricted snake under section 1531.25 of the Revised Code or rules adopted under it;

(12) A mobility impaired person as defined in section 955.011 of the Revised Code who possesses a dangerous wild animal specified in division (C)(20)(h) of section 935.01 of the Revised Code that has been trained by a nonprofit agency or is in such training to assist the mobility impaired person;

(13) A deaf or hearing-impaired person who possesses a dangerous wild animal specified in division (C)(20)(h) of section 935.01 of the Revised Code that has been trained by a nonprofit agency or is in such training to assist the deaf or hearing-impaired person;

(14) A person who is blind as defined in section 955.011 of the Revised Code and possesses a dangerous wild animal specified in division (C)(20)(h) of section 935.01 of the Revised Code that has been trained by a nonprofit agency or is in such training to assist the blind person.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 483, §101.01, eff. 9/15/2014.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. 25, HB 59, §101.01 (Vetoed), eff. 9/29/2013.

Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.113, SB 310, §1, eff. 9/5/2012.