It is the policy of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to encourage persons possessing unwanted non-native fish or wildlife as pets to relinquish such pets to qualified adopters through the Commission’s Exotic Pet Amnesty Program as an alternative to releasing them into Florida’s environment. In furtherance of this policy, the Commission will sponsor amnesty events and facilitate amnesty outside of sponsored events for such purpose.
    (1) Persons adopting nonnative species through the Commission’s Exotic Pet Amnesty Program may accept nonnative fish or wildlife from persons who have not obtained a permit from the Commission for possession of such fish or wildlife.
    (2) Any person relinquishing or adopting nonnative fish or wildlife through the Commission’s Exotic Pet Amnesty Program pursuant to this rule is hereby deemed not to be in violation of the permit requirement of subsection 68A-6.008(2), F.A.C.
    (3) All adoptions occurring pursuant to this rule shall be reported to and approved by the Commission’s Exotic Pet Amnesty Program before the surrendered animals may be accepted by the adopter. Any facility accepting wildlife pursuant to this rule must be an approved adopter with the Program and possess any required captive wildlife license(s), pursuant to Fl. Admin. Code Chapter 68A-6, and any other applicable licenses or permits.
    (4) Relinquishing reptiles of concern, or Prohibited snakes and lizards.
    (a) Persons with a valid license to possess or exhibit reptiles designated as reptiles of concern after July 1, 2010, may accept reptiles of concern as defined in subsection 68A-6.017(1), F.A.C., through the Commission’s Exotic Pet Amnesty Program from persons who have not obtained a permit from the Commission for possession of such reptiles without violating the provisions of subsection 68A-6.008(2), F.A.C., which prohibits the buying, selling or transferring of wildlife to or from an unpermitted entity within Florida.
    (b) Persons authorized to possess Prohibited snakes and lizards may accept Prohibited snakes and lizards listed in subsection 68-5.006(4), F.A.C., surrendered through the Commission’s Exotic Pet Amnesty Program from persons who have not obtained a permit from the Commission for possession of such conditional snakes and lizards without violating the provisions of subsection 68A-6.008(2), F.A.C., which prohibits the buying, selling or transferring of wildlife to or from an unpermitted entity within Florida.
    (c) Persons accepting unpermitted reptiles of concern, or Prohibited snakes and lizards, shall complete a Captive Wildlife Inventory-Donated Reptile form FWCDLE_624IV (06-10), which is adopted and incorporated herein by reference, which is available from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Division of Habitat and Species Conservation, Wildlife Impact Management Section, 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600, and submit the form to the same address within 72 hours of acquisition.
    (d) Any person relinquishing or accepting reptiles of concern, or Prohibited snakes and lizards, under this subsection is authorized to make such transfer and is not in violation of the prohibitions on buying, selling or transferring contained in subsection 68A-6.008(2), F.A.C.
    (e) Persons accepting unpermitted reptiles of concern, or Prohibited snakes or lizards, under this subsection must otherwise comply with all permit conditions and Commission rules, specifically including provisions in Rules 68A-6.017, 68A-6.0172, 68A-6.0173, and 68A-6.007, F.A.C.
    (5) State and county wildlife control agencies may accept nonnative fish and wildlife from persons who have not obtained a permit from the Commission for possession of such fish or wildlife or persons with the appropriate permit. Such animals shall be reported to the Commission’s Exotic Pet Amnesty Program and to be placed with approved adopters through the program.
Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History—New 12-27-18, Amended 4-29-21.