Bill Text: FL S0674 | 2013 | Regular Session | Engrossed

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Animal Shelters and Animal Control Agencies

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2013-04-25 - Chapter No. 2013-32 [S0674 Detail]

Download: Florida-2013-S0674-Engrossed.html

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       CS for CS for SB 674                            Second Engrossed
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       2013674e2
       
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to animal shelters and animal control
    3         agencies; amending s. 823.15, F.S.; declaring
    4         legislative priorities relating to the importation and
    5         uncontrolled breeding of dogs and cats; requiring that
    6         each public or private animal shelter, humane
    7         organization, or animal control agency operated by a
    8         humane society or by a county, municipality, or other
    9         incorporated political subdivision prepare and
   10         maintain specified records; specifying the information
   11         that must be included in the records; providing a
   12         maximum fee for copies of such records; providing an
   13         effective date.
   14  
   15  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   16  
   17         Section 1. Subsection (1) of section 823.15, Florida
   18  Statutes, is amended, present subsections (2) and (3) are
   19  redesignated as subsections (3) and (4), respectively, and a new
   20  subsection (2) is added to that section, to read:
   21         823.15 Dogs and cats released from animal shelters or
   22  animal control agencies; sterilization requirement.—
   23         (1) The Legislature has determined that the importation of
   24  dogs and cats into, and the uncontrolled breeding of dogs and
   25  cats in, this state pose risks to the well-being of dogs and
   26  cats, the health of humans and animals, and the agricultural
   27  interests in this state. Importation of dogs and cats from
   28  outside the United States could result in the transmission of
   29  diseases that have been eradicated in the United States to dogs
   30  and cats, other animals, and humans living in this state.
   31  Uncontrolled breeding The Legislature has determined that
   32  uncontrolled breeding of dogs and cats in the state results in
   33  the birth production of many more puppies and kittens than are
   34  needed to provide pet animals to new owners or to replace pet
   35  animals that which have died or become lost or to provide pet
   36  animals for new owners. This leads to many dogs, cats, puppies,
   37  and kittens being unwanted, becoming strays and suffering
   38  privation and death, being impounded and destroyed at great
   39  expense to the community, and constituting a public nuisance and
   40  public health hazard. It is therefore declared to be the public
   41  policy of the state that every feasible means be used to reduce
   42  the incidence of birth of reducing the production of unneeded
   43  and unwanted puppies and kittens be encouraged. Determining
   44  which programs result in improved adoption rates and in reduced
   45  euthanasia rates for animals in shelters and animal control
   46  agencies is crucial to this effort.
   47         (2)(a) Each public or private animal shelter, humane
   48  organization, or animal control agency operated by a humane
   49  organization or by a county, municipality, or other incorporated
   50  political subdivision, shall prepare and maintain the following
   51  records and make them available for public inspection and
   52  dissemination for the 3 preceding years. The following data will
   53  be available on a monthly basis commencing July 31, 2013:
   54         1. The total number of dogs and cats taken in by the animal
   55  shelter, humane organization, or animal control agency, divided
   56  into species, in the following categories:
   57         a. Surrendered by owner;
   58         b. Stray;
   59         c. Impounded;
   60         d. Confiscated;
   61         e. Transferred from within Florida;
   62         f. Transferred into or imported from out of the state; and
   63         g. Born in shelter.
   64  
   65  Species other than domestic cats and domestic dogs should be
   66  recorded as “other.”
   67         2. The disposition of all animals taken in by a public or
   68  private animal shelter, humane organization, or animal control
   69  agency operated by a humane society or by a county,
   70  municipality, or other incorporated political subdivision,
   71  divided into species. These data must include dispositions by:
   72         a. Adoption;
   73         b. Reclamation by owner;
   74         c. Death in kennel;
   75         d. Euthanasia at the owner’s request;
   76         e. Transfer to another public or private animal shelter,
   77  humane organization, or animal control agency operated by a
   78  humane society or by a county, municipality, or other
   79  incorporated political subdivision;
   80         f. Euthanasia;
   81         g. Released in field/Trapped, Neutered, Released (TNR);
   82         h. Lost in care/missing animals or records; and
   83         i. Ending inventory/shelter count at end of the last day of
   84  the month.
   85         3. A public or private animal shelter, humane organization,
   86  or animal control agency operated by a humane society, or by a
   87  county, municipality, or other incorporated political
   88  subdivision which routinely euthanizes dogs based on size or
   89  breed alone must provide a written statement of such policy.
   90  Dogs euthanized due to breed, temperament, or size must be
   91  recorded and included in the calculation of the total euthanasia
   92  percentage.
   93         (b) Records of a public animal shelter, humane
   94  organization, or animal control agency operated by a humane
   95  society must be made available to the public pursuant to
   96  provisions in chapter 119.
   97         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2013.