| |
| |
 |
 |
| |
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 support the following bills. |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
The 2011 Florida Legislature will be in session from March 8-May 6. |
| |
|
| |
S 344 and HB 125 — Sexual Activities Involving Animals
Senate Bill 344 and House Bill 125 would prohibit sexual contact with animals. If passed, Florida would join the majority of U.S. states that have taken a proactive approach to protecting animals from sexual predation. 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. ARFF is hopeful that 2011 will be the year that Florida legislators finally enact a ban on sexual contact with animals.
Status: On April 7, HB 125 was approved by the State Affairs Committee (the bill had previously been unanimously approved by the Criminal Justice Subcommittee and the Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee). It is now ready to be voted on by the full Florida House of Representatives. On March 24, S 344 passed the full Florida Senate with a unanimous 38-0 vote (after being unanimously approved by the Committee on Judiciary, Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Criminal Justice).
Senator Nan Rich introduced the bill in the Florida Senate, and Representative Marty Kiarr is sponsoring the House version. Please thank
them for introducing this important legislation:
• Senator Nan Rich. E-mail: rich.nan.web@flsenate.gov.
• Representative Martin David "Marty" Kiar. Click here to send an e-mail to Rep. Kiar.
|
| |
|
| |
S 1594 and HB 1145 — Pari-mutuel Permitholders
 Senate Bill 1594, introduced by Senator Maria Sachs, and House Bill 1145, introduced by Representative Dana Young, would remove the requirement that dog tracks conduct live racing in order to also offer slots or poker. If passed, many dog tracks in Florida would almost certainly choose to end live racing to focus on more profitable forms of gambling. There is wide support for this legislation, among the operators of dog tracks in Florida and among Floridians concerned about the welfare of racing greyhounds.
Status: On April 29, S 1594 passed the Florida Senate with a 25-14 vote! HB 1145 passed the Florida House of Representatives on April 26 by a vote of 86-31. The bill is now ready for the governor's signature..
Please thank Senator Sachs and Representative Young for introducing this important legislation.
• Senator Maria Lorts Sachs. E-mail: sachs.maria.web@flsenate.gov
• Representative Dana D. Young. Click here to send an e-mail to Rep. Young. |
| |
|
| |
S 722 and HB 4075 — Dangerous Dogs
 Senate Bill 722, introduced by Senator Jim Norman, and House Bill 4075, introduced by Representative Luis Garcia, would redefine the term "dangerous dog" to exclude dogs used for fighting. Currently, dogs who have been victims of dog fighting are automatically considered "dangerous." This legislation would save lives by encouraging individual evaluation of dogs rescued from animal fighters. "These dogs are victims of abuse. We should focus on punishing their criminal owners and give these abused dogs another chance at a better life," said Rep. Garcia.
Status: On April 26, S 722 was passed by the Committee on Rules with a unanimous vote (it had previously cleared the Committee on Community Affairs and the Committee on Agriculture); it is now ready to be voted on by the full Senate. On April 7, HB 4075 was reported out of the State Affairs Committee with a unanimous vote (the bill had previously cleared the Community & Military Affairs Subcommittee and Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee); the bill is now ready to be voted on by the full Florida House of Representatives.
Please thank Senator Norman and Representative Garcia for introducing this life-saving legislation:
• Senator Jim Norman. E-mail: norman.jim.web@flsenate.gov
• Representative Luis R. Garcia, Jr. Click here to send an e-mail to Rep. Garcia.
(photo by Bastique)
|
| |
|
| |
S 2032 and HB 1395 — Fighting or Baiting Animals
 Senate Bill 2032 and House Bill 1395 would strengthen Florida's animal fighting statute by making it easier to make arrests (and obtain convictions) when animal fighting paraphernalia, such as spurs or a fighting pit, are discovered, or when animals exhibit wounds from fighting. The bill would also protect animal control agencies from lawsuits related to the seizure of animals kept or used for fighting.
Status: On April 4, S 2032 was approved by the Committee on Agriculture with a unanimous vote; it is now in the Committee on Criminal Justice. HB 1395 has been referred to the Criminal Justice Subcommittee.
Senator Oscar Braynon introduced the bill in the Florida Senate, and Representative Trudi Williams introduced the House version. Please thank
them for introducing this legislation:
• Senator Oscar Braynon, II. E-mail: braynon.oscar.web@flsenate.gov
• Representative Trudi K. Williams. Click here to send an e-mail to Rep. Williams. |
| |
|
| |
 S 676 and HB 359 — Animal Control or Cruelty Ordinances
Senate Bill 676, introduced by Senator Nan Rich, and House Bill 359, introduced by Representative Scott Randolph, would require county's or municipalities in Florida to collect a $15 surcharge for each violation of an ordinance relating to animal cruelty or control. At least $9 of the surcharge would be used to subsidize the costs of spaying or neutering dogs and cats in the community.
Status: HB 359 is now before the Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee; S 676 has been referred to the Committee on Community Affairs.
Please thank Senator Rich and Representative Randolph for introducing this legislation.
• Senator Nan Rich. E-mail: rich.nan.web@flsenate.gov
• Representative Scott Randolph. Click here to send an e-mail to Rep. Randolph. |
| |
|
| |
S 1636 — Protection of Farm Animals
Senate Bill 1636, introduced by Senator Mike Bennett, would prohibit the tethering or confining of an animal on a farm for all or the majority of any day in a manner that prevents the animal from lying down, standing up, turning around freely, or fully extending his or her limbs. If passed, the ban on cruel confinement would go into effect for calves raised for veal in October 2012 and for egg-laying hens in July 2020.
Status: S 1636 has been referred to the Committee on Agriculture.
Please thank Sen. Bennett for introducing this very important bill that would improve the lives of millions of animals in Florida farms.
• Senator Michael S. Bennett.
E-mail: bennett.mike.web@flsenate.gov |
| |
|
| |
S 206 — Domestic Violence Against Family Pets
Senate Bill 206 would redefine the term "domestic violence" to include "inflicting, or attempting to inflict, physical injury against an animal owned, possessed, leased, kept, or held by one family or household member by another family or household member, or placing a family or household member in fear of physical harm to an animal owned, possessed, leased, kept, or held by that family
or household member." The bill would also give victims of domestic violence the right to gain custody of their companion animal, and to obtain an order of protection keeping abusers away from the animal(s).
The link between domestic violence and animal abuse is well documented, and battered women are often unable to escape abusive situations because they worry about what will happen to their pets. This legislation would provide protection for women and animals from violent homes.
Status: S 206 has been referred to the Committee on Criminal Justice.
Please thank Senator Mike Fasano for introducing this legislation:
• Senator Mike Fasano. E-mail: fasano.mike.web@flsenate.gov |
| |
|
|
|
