Prevention of Wildlife Trafficking

The bill adds species that appear in Appendix I to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES Appendix I) to the wildlife covered under Colorado's wildlife trafficking laws.

The bill establishes penalties for violating wildlife trafficking laws. A person who violates wildlife trafficking laws commits a class 1 misdemeanor; except that:

• If a person violates wildlife trafficking laws and the value of the wildlife involved is more than $1,000 but less than $10,000 the person commits a class 5 felony;
• If a person is convicted of trafficking wildlife and the wildlife involved is an endangered species or threatened species under Colorado law, the federal "Endangered Species Act of 1973", or a species that appears in CITES Appendix I, the person commits a class 4 felony; or
• If a person violates wildlife trafficking laws and the value of the wildlife involved is more than $10,000, the person commits a class 4 felony.

The bill grants the parks and wildlife commission in the department of natural resources authority to suspend wildlife licenses held by a person convicted of a violation of wildlife trafficking laws.

The bill requires the division of parks and wildlife in the department of natural resources to conduct investigations and surveys to collect information and data related to wildlife trafficking and determine appropriate law enforcement measures based on those investigations and surveys.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)