Connecticut General Statutes Title 19A. Public Health and Well-Being § 19a-102a. Regulation of sale of turtles

(a) As used in this section, “turtle” means any reptile commonly known as turtles, tortoises or terrapins but shall not include a turtle used solely for agricultural, scientific or educational purposes.

(b) No turtle with a carapace length of less than four inches or with viable turtle eggs may be sold in this state.

(c) No person may sell a live turtle with a carapace length of four inches or greater unless (1) a caution notice is posted by the person selling turtles which warns that the transmission of salmonella disease by turtles is possible; (2) at the time of the sale of the turtle, the seller furnishes the buyer with a copy of the caution notice and information obtained from a veterinarian regarding the proper care and feeding for the species of turtle which is being sold; (3) the buyer signs a form stating that he has read the notice provided if the buyer is less than sixteen years of age, such form shall be signed by a parent or guardian; (4) the turtle is not a species identified by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection as endangered, threatened or of special concern in regulations adopted under section 26-306; and (5) the seller receives, and retains on file for inspection by the Commissioner of Agriculture, written verification that such turtle was bred at a licensed commercial fish farm or commercial aquaculture facility and was not collected from the wild.

(d) Any person who violates any provision of this section or section 19a-102b shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars. The Commissioner of Agriculture may suspend the pet shop license of any pet shop, as defined in section 22-327, which violates any provision of this section or section 19a-102b.

(e) On or before October 1, 1996, the Commissioner of Public Health shall evaluate the public health effect of the sale of turtles in this state and shall submit a report of his findings to the General Assembly.

(f) The Commissioner of Public Health may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54,  1 to carry out the provisions of this section.