BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Just call it "Afternoon of the Iguana"
Tuesday in the Louisiana Senate.
Sen. Rob Marionneaux brought an iguana to the Senate floor for
debate on a bill that would require people to get an iguana
education when they buy the reptile at a pet store.
Marionneaux, D-Livonia, tried to set the green, wriggling iguana
on Sen. Buddy Shaw's shoulders as Shaw described his bill (Senate
Bill 368).
"Restrain your iguana, Sen. Marionneaux," Senate President
Joel Chaisson joked as Shaw, laughing, tried to explain the
legislation that heads to the House for debate after a 21-14 vote
of the Senate.
The measure would require anyone who buys an iguana to sign a
written statement saying he was advised of the proper care and food
needed for the reptile, was given a warning that an iguana can
carry salmonella and was told the iguana will grow "substantially
in size and will be more difficult to care for properly."
Shaw said he brought the bill because the iguana is one of the
most frequently abandoned reptiles and is considered an invasive
species in the United States.
Rep. J.P. Morrell, D-New Orleans, who voted against the bill,
said the state doesn't require instruction for parents before they
have children - and shouldn't require more stringent education for
taking care of a pet iguana.

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