AN ACT to authorize the wildlife resources commission to protect certain reptiles and amphibians that require conservation measures.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 113‑333(a) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"(6)	To adopt and implement rules to limit, regulate, or prohibit the taking, possession, collection, transportation, purchase or sale of those species of wild animals in the classes Amphibia and Reptilia that do not meet the criteria for listing pursuant to G.S. 113-334 if the Commission determines that the species requires conservation measures in order to prevent the addition of the species to the protected animal lists pursuant to G.S. 113-334. This subdivision does not authorize the Commission to prohibit the taking of any species of the classes Amphibia and Reptilia solely to protect persons, property, or habitat; to prohibit possession by any person of four or fewer individual reptiles; or to prohibit possession by any person of 24 or fewer individual amphibians."
SECTION 2.  The commercial taking of any turtle or terrapin within any of the species of turtles and terrapins in the families Emydidae and Trionychidae that are the large basking and sliding turtles and terrapins is prohibited until such time as the Wildlife Resources Commission adopts rules to regulate the taking of turtles or terrapins within these two families of reptiles. For the purposes of this section, "commercial taking" is defined as the taking, possession, collection, transportation, purchase or sale of five or more individual turtles or terrapins from either of the two families of reptiles described in this section.  Any person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and is punishable as provided in G.S. 113‑135. This section shall not apply to a licensed veterinarian; to a bona fide zoo operated by the federal government, the State, or a unit of local government; or to bona fide scientific, biological, medical, or veterinary education or research.

SECTION 3.  Sections 1 and 3 of this act are effective when this act becomes law.  Section 2 of this act becomes effective 1 July 2003 and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 21st day of May, 2003.

	s/	 Beverly E. Perdue
	 President of the Senate

	s/	 Richard T. Morgan
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives

	s/	 Michael F. Easley
	 Governor

Approved 11:11 a.m. this 31st day of May, 2003