Bill Text: FL H0735 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Animal Welfare

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2012-03-09 - Died in Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee [H0735 Detail]

Download: Florida-2012-H0735-Introduced.html

---

HB 735

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to animal welfare; amending s. 823.15,
3	F.S.; providing legislative findings concerning the
4	importation of dogs and cats and the importance of
5	determining what programs result in improved adoption
6	rates and the reduction in euthanasia rates for
7	animals in shelters and animal control agencies;
8	providing additional records requirements for any
9	public or private animal shelter or animal control
10	agency operated by a humane society or government;
11	providing that such records are public records;
12	specifying a maximum copying charge; amending s.
13	828.29, F.S.; providing vaccination and other health
14	requirements for dogs transported into the state for
15	adoption; providing that animal control agencies and
16	registered nonprofit humane organizations are subject
17	to such provisions; providing an effective date.
18
19	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
20
21	Section 1.  Subsection (1) of section 823.15, Florida
22	Statutes, is amended to read:
23	823.15  Dogs and cats released from animal shelters or
24	animal control agencies; sterilization requirement.-
25	(1)  The Legislature has determined that uncontrolled
26	breeding and importation of dogs and cats in this the state
27	results in a greater risk of disease transmission to animals and
28	humans from animals imported from outside the United States as
29	well as a risk to agriculture interests of this state created by
30	the importation of diseases endemic in other areas of the world,
31	but eradicated in the United States, and in the births
32	production of many more puppies and kittens than are needed to
33	replace pet animals that which have died or become lost or to
34	provide pet animals for new owners. This leads to many dogs,
35	cats, puppies, and kittens being unwanted, becoming strays and
36	suffering privation and death, being impounded and destroyed at
37	great expense to the community, and constituting a public
38	nuisance and public health hazard. It is therefore declared to
39	be the public policy of the state that every feasible means be
40	used to reduce the birth of reducing the production of unneeded
41	and unwanted puppies and kittens be encouraged. Crucial to this
42	effort is determining which programs result in improved adoption
43	rates and the reduction in euthanasia rates for animals in
44	shelters and animal control agencies.
45	(a)  Additional records requirements for any public or
46	private animal shelter or animal control agency operated by a
47	humane society or by a county, city, or other incorporated
48	political subdivision include:
49	1.  The total number of animals taken in, divided into
50	species, in the following categories:
51	a.  Surrendered by owner.
52	b.  Strays.
53	c.  Impounds.
54	d.  Confiscations.
55	e.  Imports into the state.
56
57	Feral cats shall be recorded as a separate category from other
58	cats. Species other than domestic cats and domestic dogs should
59	be recorded as "other."
60	2.  The disposition of all animals taken in, divided into
61	species, including:
62	a.  Adoptions.
63	b.  Reclaims by owner.
64	c.  Kennel deaths.
65	d.  Euthanizations at the owner's request.
66	e.  Transfers to another public or private animal shelter
67	or animal control agency operated by a humane society or by a
68	county, city, or other incorporated political subdivision.
69	f.  Total euthanizations.
70	3.  A statement confirming the policy of routine
71	euthanizations of dogs based on size or breed alone. Dogs
72	euthanized due to breed, temperament, or size must be recorded
73	and included in the total euthanasia percentage calculation.
74	(b)  Records required by this subsection shall be public
75	records under chapter 119 and, notwithstanding any other law,
76	shall be available to the public for a cost not to exceed $1 per
77	one-sided copy.
78	Section 2.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and subsection
79	(15) of section 828.29, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
80	828.29  Dogs and cats transported or offered for sale;
81	health requirements; consumer guarantee.-
82	(1)(a)  For each dog transported into the state for sale or
83	adoption, the tests, vaccines, and anthelmintics required by
84	this section must be administered by or under the direction of a
85	veterinarian, licensed by the state of origin and accredited by
86	the United States Department of Agriculture, who issues the
87	official certificate of veterinary inspection. The tests,
88	vaccines, and anthelmintics must be administered no more than 30
89	days and no less than 14 days before the dog's entry into the
90	state. The official certificate of veterinary inspection
91	certifying compliance with this section must accompany each dog
92	transported into the state for sale or adoption.
93	(15)  County-operated or city-operated animal control
94	agencies and registered nonprofit humane organizations are
95	exempt from this section except for paragraph (1)(a).
96	Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2012.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.