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.

Constitutional Amendment Banning Cruel Gestation Crates in Danger!
— S 1918 and HJR 7165

In 2002, Floridians and animal activists from around the country worked tirelessly to pass a citizen initiative to ban one of factory farming’s worst forms of intense confinement: the gestation crate. Over 2 1/2 million Floridians voted to make it illegal to keep pregnant pigs in barren cages so small they can not turn around or move more than a step forwards or backwards. The vote was the first time in United States’ history that an established method of factory farming had been banned for its inherent cruelty to animals.

Floridians have spoken clearly to protect animals by voting to ban this cruel practice. Despite this, the Florida state legislature is considering a bill that would remove the provision banning gestation crates from the State Constitution.

Update: In early May, S 1918 was passed by the full Senate. Fortunately, the 2006 Regular Session adjourned before the companion bill, HJR 7165, came up for the vote in the House.

Emergency Sheltering of Persons with Companion Animals
The need for pet-friendly hurricane shelters should be apparent to anyone who witnessed the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, in New Orleans and in other towns on the Gulf Coast. Tragically, people died because they refused to leave their beloved companion animals behind in the evacuation. Fortunately, legislation has been introduced that would require Florida's emergency management agencies to make plans for people with pets in the event of a disaster.

S (Senate Bill) 1484 and HB (House Bill) 545 - "Relating to Emergency Public Shelters"
S 1484 (introduced by Senator Nan Rich) and HB 545 (co-sponsored by Representatives Nancy Detert and Susan Bucher) would require local emergency management agencies to provide "at least one shelter space in each county that is designated and equipped to accept evacuees with pets who reside in an area under an evacuation order." The bills also assign "veterinary and animal control personnel" to assist in the management of the shelters.
Update: S 1484 passed two committees with unanimous votes. HB 545 passed its first committee unanimously. Unfortunately, the bills did not advance out of their final committees.

Cruelty to Animals - HB 43 and S 484.
These bills would would stiffen penalties for those who knowingly and intentionally injure, mutilate, or kill an animal. First-time offenders would face a mandatory minimum term of six months’ incarceration (there is currently no minimum sentence), and for subsequent offenses, abusers would serve a minimum of 10 months behind bars (the current minimum sentence is six months). The bills would also require psychological counseling or completion of an anger management treatment program.
Update: On April 5, S 484 passed the full Senate. All 39 Senators voted for the legislation! HB 43, the companion bill in the House, did not have as much luck and died in committee.

Juvenile Animal Cruelty/Task Force - HB 563 and S 1950.
These bills would create a task force to make recommendations for improving Florida’s laws and policies that address animal cruelty by juvenile offenders, including treatment and rehabilitation.
Update: Both HB 563 and S 1950 passed their first two committees with unanimous votes. Sadly, the bills did not clear their final committees before the Regular Session ended.

Purchase of Dogs and Cats - S 470.
Requires "animal purchase disclosure" certificates that would provide important information about purchased animals, prohibits sale of animals younger than a certain age, provides for veterinary care of ill or diseased animals, and requires sellers to reimburse veterinary costs associated with certain illnesses or conditions.
Update: S 470 was passed out of the Agriculture Committee, but did not progress further.

Regulated Reptiles, "The Python Bill" - HB 1459 and S 990

House Bill 1459 and Senate Bill 990 were introduced to tighten rules regulating the possession and exhibition of pythons and other large and dangerous, though non-venomous, reptiles. Current law only regulates the possession of poisonous reptiles. The legislation is intended to add Burmese, African rock, reticulated and amethystine pythons, Anaconda and monitor lizards to the list of reptiles requiring permits. The bills would also make it a third degree felony to knowingly release a regulated reptile into the wild, or to negligently allow a regulated reptile to escape.

Update: HB 1459 and S 990 made great progress in the 2006 Regular Session. Unfortunately, these important bills did not make it to the full House or Senate for votes before the end of the session. The bill's sponsors have said that they will reintroduce the legislation next year.

HB 1459 was co-sponsored by Representatives Ralph Poppell and Mike Davis. S 990 was introduced by Senator Bill Posey. Please thank them for introducing this important legislation:

-Representative Ralph Poppell. Click here to send an e-mail to Rep. Poppell.
-Representative Mike Davis. Click here to send an e-mail to Rep. Davis.
-Senator Bill Posey. Email: posey.bill.web@ flsenate.gov.