Senate Bill 6294 — Unlawful Trade of Fur Products (State of Washington, 2024 Regular Session)

Summary

Senate Bill 6294 of the 68th Legislature, 2024 Regular Session, State of Washington, by Senators Stanford, Kuderer, Liias, and Valdez, referred to the Committee on Business, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade. The act relates to the unlawful trade of fur products. Section 3 makes it unlawful to sell, offer for sale, display for sale, trade, or otherwise distribute a fur product in the state, with exceptions including activity expressly authorized by federal law. Section 4 provides a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 and treats each fur product that violates the section as a separate violation. Section 6 states that the act takes effect January 1, 2025.

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Full text

     S-4183.1

                               SENATE BILL 6294


     State of Washington       68th Legislature         2024 Regular Session

     By Senators Stanford, Kuderer, Liias, and Valdez

     Read first time 01/23/24.       Referred   to   Committee   on   Business,
     Financial Services, Gaming & Trade.




1        AN ACT Relating to the unlawful trade of fur products; adding a
2    new chapter to Title 19 RCW; prescribing penalties; and providing an
3    effective date.


4    BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:


 5       NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that eliminating the
 6   sale of fur products in the state of Washington will decrease demand
 7   for cruel products; reduce public health risks, including risks to
 8   consumers from toxic chemicals used to treat fur; protect consumers
 9   from false and misleading advertising and labeling of fur products;
10   promote community awareness of animal welfare; promote environmental
11   awareness of animal welfare; alleviate environmental burdens; and
12   enhance the reputation of the state.

13       NEW SECTION.    Sec. 2.    The definitions in this section apply
14   throughout   this  chapter   unless  the   context  clearly   requires
15   otherwise.
16       (1) "Fur" means any animal skin or part thereof with hair,
17   fleece, or fur fibers attached, either in its raw or processed state.
18       (2)(a) "Fur product" means any article of clothing or covering
19   for any part of the body, or any fashion accessory including, but not
20   limited to, handbags, shoes, slippers, hats, earmuffs, scarves,
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 1   shawls, gloves, jewelry, keychains, toys or trinkets, and home
 2   accessories and decor, that is made in whole or in part of fur.
 3       (b) "Fur product" does not include any of the following:
 4       (i) An animal skin or part thereof that is to be converted into
 5   leather, which in processing will have the hair, fleece, or fur fiber
 6   completely removed;
 7       (ii) Cowhide, deerskin, goatskin, or sheepskin with hair attached
 8   thereto; or
 9       (iii) The pelt or skin of an animal that is preserved through
10   taxidermy or for the purpose of taxidermy.
11       (3) "Nonprofit organization" means any corporation that is
12   organized under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(3) that is created for
13   charitable,   religious,   philanthropic,  educational,   or   similar
14   purposes.
15       (4) "Taxidermy" means the practice of preparing, stuffing, and
16   mounting the skin, in lifelike form, of any deceased fish, reptile,
17   amphibian, bird, or mammal.
18       (5) "Ultimate consumer" means an individual who buys a fur
19   product for their own use or for the use of another, but not for
20   resale or trade.
21       (6) "Used fur product" means a fur product that has been worn or
22   used by an ultimate consumer.


23       NEW SECTION.   Sec. 3.    (1) It is unlawful to sell, offer for
24   sale, display for sale, trade, or otherwise distribute for monetary
25   or nonmonetary consideration a fur product in the state. For the
26   purposes of this section, the sale of a fur product is deemed to
27   occur in Washington if the seller is located in Washington or the
28   buyer takes physical possession of the fur product in Washington.
29       (2) The prohibition set forth in subsection (1) of this section
30   does not apply to the following:
31       (a) A used fur product offered for sale by an individual but
32   excluding a retail transaction; a nonprofit organization; or a second
33   hand store, including a pawn shop;
34       (b) A fur product:
35       (i) The fur of which was obtained from an animal through lawful
36   trapping or hunting; and
37       (ii) When sold in a face-to-face transaction at a place such as a
38   residence, craft fair, or other location used on a temporary or
39   short-term basis, by the person who trapped or hunted the animal, or
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 1   by an immediate family member of the person who hunted or trapped the
 2   animal, where the revenue from the sale of the fur products is not
 3   the primary source of income of such person; or
 4       (c) Any activity expressly authorized by federal law.


 5       NEW SECTION.     Sec. 4.    (1) Every person who violates any
 6   provision of this chapter shall forfeit and pay a civil penalty of
 7   not more than $1,000.
 8       (2) Each fur product that constitutes a violation of this section
 9   must be treated as a separate violation.


10       NEW SECTION.    Sec. 5.    If any provision of this act or its
11   application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the
12   remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other
13   persons or circumstances is not affected.


14      NEW SECTION.   Sec. 6.   This act takes effect January 1, 2025.


15       NEW SECTION.   Sec. 7.   Sections 1 through 4 and 6 of this act
16   constitute a new chapter in Title 19 RCW.

                                   --- END ---




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