2011 Legislative Session
Florida's 2011 legislative session has begun. This year in Tallahassee, several important bills have been introduced, including legislation to outlaw sexual abuse of animals, to raise funds for spaying/neutering of dogs and cats, to allow greyhound tracks to halt live racing, to ban veal crates and battery cages, and to strengthen Florida's animal fighting statute.
Please contact your state senator and state representative and ask that they support the following bills.
Make separate phone calls or emails for each bill. Be brief. Identify yourself as a constituent and state your support of the bill. For example:
"Dear Senator _____,
I am a resident of District __. I urge you to support S 344, which would make sexual contact with animals a crime."
-or-
"Dear Representative _____,
I am a resident of District __. I urge you to support HB 125, which would make sexual contact with animals a crime."
Click here to find your elected officials.
In the coming weeks, visit ARFF's website to learn about the progress of animal-related legislation.
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.
S 676 and HB 359 -- Animal Control or Cruelty Ordinances
Senate Bill 676 and House Bill 359 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.
S 206 -- Domestic Violence Against Family Pets
Senate Bill 206 would redefine the term "domestic violence" to include the physical abuse, or threat of abuse, of animals in the home. 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.
S 722 and HB 4075 -- Dangerous Dogs
Senate Bill 722 and House Bill 4075 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 for 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 bill sponsor Rep. Luis Garcia.
S 1594 and HB 1145 -- Pari-mutuel Permitholders
Senate Bill 1594 and House Bill 1145 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.
S 1636 -- Protection of Farm Animals
Senate Bill 1636 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.
HB 1395 -- Fighting or Baiting Animals 
House Bill 1395 would strengthen Florida's animal fighting statute by making it easier to make arrests when animal fighting paraphernalia, such as spurs or a fighting pit, is 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.