Jack Hanna paid a visit to Senate Republicans at their out-of-town retreat this week , and Senate President Tom Niehaus said he hopes to move quickly on new exotic animals legislation.

Hanna, director emeritus of the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium and a nationally known wildlife expert, spoke at the request of Sen. Troy Balderson, R-Zanesville, who is expected to sponsor the new exotic animal bill.

The finishing touches are being put on a bill that, to start, is expected to reflect a November proposal by a state committee representing government and animal-interest groups and appointed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Backed by Gov. John Kasich, the group recommended a full ban on private ownership of exotic animals by Jan. 1, 2014.

The report came on the heels of an Oct. 18 incident near Zanesville, where law-enforcement officers were forced to shoot 48 animals, including bears, lions, monkeys and tigers, after they were set free by their owner, Terry W. Thompson, who committed suicide. Six animals remain at the Columbus Zoo.

“(Hanna) explained what we’re talking about in terms of how dangerous these animals are and how difficult it is to care for them properly in a private setting,” Niehaus said. “That was great for a number of members to see how dangerous some of these animals are.”

But Niehaus remains concerned that it may be unconstitutional to force owners to give up their lions, tigers, primates, pythons and wolf-dog hybrids. “We want to make sure that whatever we do is constitutional. I think there still are some issues about that in terms of taking animals from people who currently own them. It doesn’t change the fact that they are dangerous, but I think that’s more of a constitutional argument we’ll have to hear about.”

Niehaus said he expects hearings on the bill will begin the week of Jan. 23. He wants the bill to pass the Senate by the end of March, if not sooner.