ARFF - 2008 Legislative Session


	The best way to show legislators that animal protection is an important issue, is for animal advocates to communicate with their elected officials. Legislators do care what constituents (voters) think about issues. After all, elected officials generally want to be re-elected, and that means adequately addressing matters important to their constituents. Please contact your state senator and state representative and ask that they take a pro-animal position on the following important bills.
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	The 2008 Regular Session of the Florida Legislature ended on Friday, May 2.

	HB 1227 and S 744 — Sexual Activities Involving Animals House Bill 1227 and Senate Bill 744 would prohibit sexual contact with an animal. In 2007, there were several disturbing cases of sexual abuse of animals in Florida. Shockingly, bestiality is not expressly outlawed in Florida. Bestiality is an uncomfortable topic, but it is important that Florida adopts legislation to criminalize the activity, as at least 30 other states have done. Bestiality, or zoophilia, is a recognized sexual disorder by the psychiatric community, in the same category as pedophilia and necrophilia. Status: S 744 was approved unanimously by the Criminal Justice committee, but unfortunately did not make further progress in the Florida Senate. HB 1227 did not make it out of committee before the end of the session. HB 1227 was introduced by Rep. Bill Heller (District 52). S 744 was introduced by Sen. Nan Rich (District 34). Please thank them for introducing this important legislation: • Representative Bill Heller. Click here to send an e-mail to Rep. Heller. • Senator Nan Rich. E-mail: rich.nan.web@flsenate.gov. We hope that this legislation will be reintroduced next year.

	S 444 — Sale of Dogs and Cats Senate Bill 444, introduced by Sen. Larcenia Bullard, would strengthen Florida's "Pet Lemon Law" by transferring the power to regulate the sale of dogs and cats to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The bill would also strengthen penalties for violations (allowing fines of up to $10,000), and provide funding to add one additional full-time employee to enforce the rules. Contact your state senator and ask him or her to support this bill. Status: S 444 passed the Agriculture and Judiciary committees with unanimous votes, but did not make it out of its final committee before the end of the session. Please thank Sen. Bullard for introducing this bill: • Senator Larcenia Bullard (District 39). E-mail: bullard.larcenia.web@flsenate.gov

	HB 219 and S 1994 — Gertrude Maxwell Save a Pet Act House Bill 219 and Senate Bill 1994 create a direct-support organization within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services that will raise funds to be distributed to animal shelters throughout Florida for spaying and neutering animals. HB 219 was introduced by Rep. Carl Domino. S 1994 was introduced by Senator Jeff Atwater. Adopted! S 1994 was passed by the Senate with a unanimous vote. HB 219 was approved by the Florida House with an impressive vote of 114 to 0. The governor is expected to sign the act into law.

	S 590 — Relating to Pari-mutuel Wagering Florida's Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering is supposed to ensure the humane treatment of animals at dog and horse tracks, but under current law the division is unable to conduct inspections of track facilities without the consent of the owners of the racing animals. Senate Bill 590 would address this problem by granting authority to the division to "inspect any area at a pari-mutuel facility where racing animals are housed or maintained, including any areas where food, medications, or other supplies are kept." The bill also clarifies that the division may revoke the occupational license of racetrack employees if they are convicted of cruelty to any animal (not only to racing animals). Status: S 590 was passed by the Florida Senate with a vote of 30 to 8, but unfortunately did not make it to the floor of the House for a vote before the session ended. Please thank Sen. Dennis Jones for introducing this bill: • Senator Dennis L. Jones (District 13). E-mail: jones.dennis.web@flsenate.gov

	HB 101 — Dangerous Dogs House Bill 101, introduced by Rep. Perry Thurston, would reverse Florida’s prohibition on breed-specific regulations. Banning a specific breed does not effectively address the problem of dangerous dogs. There are more appropriate methods of curbing dangerous dog behavior, such as stopping the breeding of dogs for fighting and limiting the number of hours a dog can be chained. Failed: HB 101 did not advance out of committee.

	S 1380 — Electronic Gaming Machines Again this year, lawmakers in Tallahassee are considering a bill (S 1380) to allow slot machines at dog tracks across the state. If this proposal passes, dog races will be subsidized with millions of dollars in casino gambling profits, ensuring that the cruelty of dog racing will continue for years to come. Failed: S 1380 was passed by the Florida Senate by a vote of 27 to 11. Thankfully, the bill was not considered in the Florida House. Click here to learn more about the tragedy of greyhound racing.

	HB 1241 and S 970 — Relating to Slot Machine Revenues/Tax Rate House Bill 1241 and Senate Bill 970 would revise the tax rate on slot machine revenues at dog and horse tracks, and jai alai frontons in south Florida. Earnings would be taxed at 35 percent instead of the current 50 percent rate, allowing track owners to profit even more off the exploitation of racing animals. Failed: S 970 passed the Senate with a vote of 25 to 12. HB 1241 was not considered in the Florida House.

	HB 1017 and S 2322 — Relating to Sales Tax/Intl. Game Fish Association The IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum, in Dania Beach, was a bad idea from the beginning. But even worse is that the museum is supported by $1 million in public money each year. As part of a program intended to attract tourists, the Department of Revenue distributes $83,333 each month from sales tax revenues to the museum. This monthly subsidy is due to expire in 2010. House Bill 1017 and Senate Bill 2322 would extend taxpayer support for another 10 years. 10 years of public support is enough! In a year in which the state Legislature is considering cutting funding for public education and healthcare programs, giving $10 million to blood sport enthusiasts is a particularly bad idea. Failed: HB 1017 and S 2322 did not make much progress before the end of the session.