Want to buy a monkey?

Under Utah law, you're out of luck -- although Rep. Chris Herrod wants to change that.

The Provo Republican wants to repeal the state prohibition, after getting a request from his daughter's 13-year-old friend.

"There are groups that are going to be opposed to it," he said, expecting the state's Division of Wildlife Resources to have concerns about the measure.

Utah Administrative Rule R657-3-24(1)(p) prohibits the importation and possession of lemurs, aye ayes, bush babies, Capuchin-like monkeys, marmosets, tamarins, baboons, macaques, gorillas, orangutans, chimps and other primates.

According to Born Free USA, a non-profit that focuses on wild animals in captivity, 20 states ban the ownership of monkeys and non-human primates.

Herrod says the repeal in HB376 will be narrow, and he doesn't expect it to cover many primates -- just a specific type of monkey.

Robin Thomas, a legislative liaison with the Utah Division of Wildlife

Resources, said the division hasn't taken a position yet since the

actual language of Herrod's bill is not available.

"I would imagine the Division of Wildlife Resources is going to have

some concerns with any legislation that makes it easier for people to

have exotic animals as pets," she said. "There are some health

concerns, there are some safety concerns. We'll be watching it closely."

A spokeswoman for Gov. Gary Herbert said that the governor's office has not seen the language of the bill -- which is still being drafted -- and he could not take a position on the measure.

"I want young people getting involved in the process," said Herrod, who concedes the measure is being proposed in a lighthearted way.