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 the pro-animal positions outlined below for the following bills.
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	The 2009 Regular Session of the Florida Legislature ended on Friday, May 1.

	HB 273 and S 448 — Sexual Activities Involving Animals A bill entitled "Relating to Sexual Activities Involving Animals" has been introduced in the Florida legislature. If passed Florida would join the 30+ other U.S. states who have taken a proactive approach to protecting animals from sexual predation. House Bill 273 and Senate Bill 448 would prohibit sexual contact with animals. In recent years, there have been several disturbing cases of sexual abuse of animals in Florida. Shockingly, bestiality has not yet been expressly outlawed in Florida. Status: On April 28, S 448 was approved by the Florida Senate with a unanimous vote (the bill had previously been approved by the Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations, the Judiciary Committee, the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Criminal Justice). Unfortunately, in the Florida House, HB 273 did not make it out of committee before the end of the session. Senator Nan Rich introduced the bill in the Florida Senate, and Representative William Snyder sponsored the House version. Please thank them for introducing this important legislation: • Representative William D. Snyder. Click here to send an e-mail to Rep. Snyder. • Senator Nan Rich. E-mail: rich.nan.web@flsenate.gov. We hope that this legislation will be reintroduced next year.

	HB 189 and S 922 — Dangerous Dogs Legislation has been introduced to reverse Florida’s prohibition on breed-specific regulations. Currently, Florida law bans breed discrimination (the law does not apply to Miami-Dade County's long-standing ban on pit bull-type dogs). Under House Bill 189 and Senate Bill 922, local governments would be allowed to enact regulations to ban the possession of Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, German Shepherds and any number of other dog breeds. A similar effort was unsuccessful in the 2008 legislative session. Breed specific regulations do not address the real issues behind so-called “dangerous dogs,” and would instead penalize entire breeds of dogs indiscriminately. People living with the outlawed dog types could be forced to move or surrender their dog friends. Status: Thankfully, HB 189 and S 922 was never considered by committees in either the Florida House or Senate.

	HB 1215 and S 2316 — Relating to Pari-mutuel Facilities 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. House Bill 1215 and Senate Bill 2316 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: Unfortunately, HB 1215 and S 2316 was not considered during the 2009 legislative session. Please thank Representative Schultz and Senator Jones for introducing this legislation: • Representative Ron Schultz. Click here to send an e-mail to Rep. Schultz. • Senator Dennis L. Jones. E-mail: jones.dennis.web@flsenate.gov.

	HB 1437 and S 2594 — Greyhound Racing Permitholders House Bill 1437 and Senate Bill 2594 would create a "light at the end of the tunnel" for racing greyhounds in Florida. If enacted, the legislation would create a date after which no new greyhound racing permits would be issued. The legislation would also allow current permitholders to operate simulcast wagering, cardrooms and slot machines without also running greyhounds (current regulations require a minimum number of live races). Several dog track owners are believed to want to end live racing and focus on more-profitable slots. Status: HB 1437 and S 2594 was not considered during the 2009 legislative session. Please contact Senator Gaetz and Representative Horner and thank them for sponsoring this humane legislation. • Representative Mike Horner. Click here to send an e-mail to Rep. Horner. • Senator Don Gaetz. E-mail: gaetz.don.web@flsenate.gov. Click here to learn more about the tragedy of greyhound racing.

	HB 1249 and S 2002 — Commercial Dog Breeding House Bill 1249 and Senate Bill 2002 would discourage the large-scale commercial breeding of dogs by prohibiting the private possession of 50 or more unsterilized dogs (animal shelters, rescue organizations, retail pet stores and boarding facilities would be exempt). The bill would also define minimum requirements (space, exercise, veterinary care) for the private possession of 20 or more dogs. Status: S 2002 was approved by the Committee on Community Affairs, but did not progress further before the end of the session. Please thank Representatives Soto and Jenne, and Senator Constantine for introducing this legislation: • Representative Darren Soto. Click here to send an e-mail to Rep. Soto. • Representative Evan Jenne. Click here to send an e-mail to Rep. Jenne. • Senator Lee Constantine. E-mail: constantine.lee.web@flsenate.gov.

	HB 1337 and S 992 — Sterilization of Dogs and Cats House Bill 1337, introduced by Rep. Kelly Skidmore, and Senate Bill 992, introduced by Sen. Nan Rich, would amend Florida law to require animal rescue/adoption groups to sterilize all healthy dogs and cats sold or released for adoption. Currently, this requirement only applies to animal shelters and animal control agencies. Status: S 992 passed the Committee on Community Affairs with a unanimous vote, but did not progress further before the end of the session.

	S 2706 — Relating to Animal Control or Cruelty Ordinances Senate Bill 2706, introduced by Senator Nan Rich, would require municipalities in Florida enacting an animal control ordinance to impose a $5 surcharge on the penalty for violations of the ordinance. The proceeds of the surcharge would be used to subsidize the costs of the spaying or neutering of dogs and cats. Status: S 2706 did not advance out of committee.

	S 288 — Sale of Dogs and Cats Senate Bill 288, introduced by Senator 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. Status: S 288 was unanimously approved by the Senate Agriculture committee, but did not progress further 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.