Bill Text: FL S0994 | 2022 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Pet Protection
Spectrum:
Status: (Failed) 2022-03-14 - Died in Community Affairs [S0994 Detail]
Download: Florida-2022-S0994-Comm_Sub.html
Florida Senate - 2022 CS for SB 994
By the Committee on Regulated Industries; and Senators Diaz,
Powell, and Jones
580-01961-22 2022994c1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to pet protection; providing a
3 directive to the Division of Law Revision; creating s.
4 468.901, F.S.; providing a short title; creating s.
5 468.903, F.S.; defining terms; creating s. 468.905,
6 F.S.; requiring the licensure of retail pet stores;
7 requiring the Department of Business and Professional
8 Regulation to adopt standards and procedures for such
9 licensure; prohibiting unlicensed retail pet stores
10 from taking certain actions regarding certain
11 household pets; creating s. 468.907, F.S.; defining
12 the term “qualified breeder”; limiting the sources
13 from which retail pet stores may acquire household
14 pets for specified purposes; prohibiting certain
15 household pets from being used by retail pet stores
16 for specified purposes; requiring certain
17 documentation of the sources from which retail pet
18 stores acquire household pets for sale; providing
19 requirements for the living conditions for household
20 pets at retail pet stores; providing retail pet store
21 veterinarian, exercise, and socialization
22 requirements; creating s. 468.909, F.S.; requiring the
23 department to conduct periodic inspections of retail
24 pet stores and to audit sales records; requiring the
25 department to establish procedures for the inspections
26 and records of the inspections; authorizing contracts
27 with certain veterinarians to conduct inspections;
28 creating s. 468.911, F.S.; requiring the department to
29 deny a retail pet store license under certain
30 circumstances; authorizing disciplinary action under
31 certain circumstances; specifying administrative
32 procedures; providing civil penalties; authorizing the
33 department to adopt rules; creating s. 468.913, F.S.;
34 authorizing civil actions for purposes of enforcement;
35 creating s. 468.915, F.S.; providing criminal
36 penalties for specified violations; creating s.
37 468.917, F.S.; requiring certain moneys to be
38 deposited into the department’s Professional
39 Regulation Trust Fund; creating s. 468.919, F.S.;
40 providing construction; creating s. 468.921, F.S.;
41 prohibiting county and municipal ordinances and
42 regulations from prohibiting or regulating the
43 breeding, purchase, or sale of certain working dogs;
44 providing applicability with regard to new and
45 existing county and municipal ordinances and
46 regulations; amending s. 823.15, F.S.; requiring
47 certain public or private animal agencies to report on
48 a monthly basis certain animal records to the
49 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services;
50 requiring public animal rescues to make records
51 available to the public; requiring the department to
52 make the data reported by the agencies available on
53 its website in a specified manner; requiring public
54 and private animal rescues and humane organizations to
55 provide for the sterilization of adopted dogs and cats
56 according to certain requirements; authorizing public
57 or private animal rescues to implant dogs and cats
58 with radio frequency identification microchips and to
59 contact the owners of such devices to verify pet
60 ownership; requiring certain public or private animal
61 agencies to disclose a dog’s bite history before
62 adoption; prohibiting certain public or private animal
63 agencies from intentionally breeding dogs or cats for
64 sale to the public and from exchanging payment or
65 compensation to obtain dogs or cats from certain
66 persons; providing applicability; amending s. 474.203,
67 F.S.; conforming a provision to changes made by the
68 act; providing an effective date.
69
70 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
71
72 Section 1. The Division of Law Revision is directed to
73 create part XVII of chapter 468, Florida Statutes, consisting of
74 ss. 468.901-468.921, Florida Statutes, to be entitled “Retail
75 Pet Stores.”
76 Section 2. Section 468.901, Florida Statutes, is created to
77 read:
78 468.901 Short title.—This part may be cited as the “Florida
79 Pet Protection Act.”
80 Section 3. Section 468.903, Florida Statutes, is created to
81 read:
82 468.903 Definitions.—As used in this part, the term:
83 (1) “Animal rescue” means a nonprofit organization exempt
84 from federal income taxation under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal
85 Revenue Code which keeps, houses, and maintains household pets
86 and which is dedicated to the welfare, health, safety, and
87 protection of such pets. The term includes an organization that
88 offers spayed or neutered household pets for adoption and
89 charges only reasonable adoption fees to cover the
90 organization’s costs, including, but not limited to, costs
91 related to spaying or neutering the pets.
92 (2) “Animal shelter” means a public facility, or a private
93 facility operated by a nonprofit organization exempt from
94 federal income taxation under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal
95 Revenue Code, which keeps, houses, and maintains household pets,
96 such as a county or municipal animal control agency or pound, a
97 humane society, an animal welfare society, a society for the
98 prevention of cruelty to animals, or another nonprofit
99 organization devoted to the welfare, protection, and humane
100 treatment of household pets.
101 (3) “Department” means the Department of Business and
102 Professional Regulation.
103 (4) “Household pet” means a domestic dog or a domestic cat.
104 (5) “Pet broker” means a person who buys, sells, or offers
105 for sale household pets for resale to other persons, or who
106 sells or gives one or more pets to a retail pet store, and who
107 holds a valid Class B animal dealer license issued by the United
108 States Department of Agriculture.
109 (6) “Professional breeder” means a person required to be
110 licensed as a Class A animal dealer by the United States
111 Department of Agriculture.
112 (7) “Retail pet store” means a retail store that sells or
113 offers for sale household pets to the public. The term does not
114 include an animal rescue; an animal shelter; or a breeder who
115 sells or transfers, directly to the public, household pets bred
116 and raised on the breeder’s premises.
117 (8) “Veterinarian” means a health care practitioner
118 licensed under chapter 474, or licensed in another state by the
119 applicable entity in that state, to engage in the practice of
120 veterinary medicine.
121 Section 4. Section 468.905, Florida Statutes, is created to
122 read:
123 468.905 Licensure of retail pet stores.—
124 (1) A person may not operate a retail pet store in this
125 state without having a valid retail pet store license issued by
126 the department in accordance with this section.
127 (2) The department shall adopt standards and procedures for
128 the licensure of retail pet stores consistent with this act. An
129 applicant for a retail pet store license must apply to the
130 department on a form prescribed by the department for each
131 premises. Upon licensure, the department shall assign a unique
132 license number for each licensed premises.
133 (3) The department may establish annual licenses that are
134 valid for 1 year and that may be renewed. An application for
135 renewal of a license must be submitted to the department in a
136 format prescribed by the department.
137 (4) A retail pet store that does not have a valid license
138 may not display, offer for sale, deliver, barter, auction,
139 broker, give away, transfer, or sell any household pet from the
140 store.
141 Section 5. Section 468.907, Florida Statutes, is created to
142 read:
143 468.907 Sale or transfer of household pets by retail pet
144 stores.—
145 (1) As used in this section, the term “qualified breeder”
146 means a professional breeder located within or outside this
147 state who meets all of the following requirements:
148 (a) Holds a valid Class A animal license issued by the
149 United States Department of Agriculture and, if required by the
150 state in which he or she is located, is licensed by a state
151 agency.
152 (b) Has not been issued a report of a finally adjudicated
153 direct noncompliance violation by the United States Department
154 of Agriculture under the federal Animal Welfare Act, 7 U.S.C.
155 ss. 2131 et seq., in the 2 years immediately before offering for
156 sale, delivering, bartering, auctioning, brokering, giving away,
157 transferring, or selling a household pet. However, a
158 professional breeder is not considered a qualified breeder until
159 any pending report of a direct noncompliance violation is
160 finally adjudicated.
161 (c) Has not had three or more finally adjudicated
162 noncompliance violations documented in any report issued by the
163 United States Department of Agriculture under the federal Animal
164 Welfare Act, 7 U.S.C. ss. 2131 et seq., for the year immediately
165 before offering for sale, delivering, bartering, auctioning,
166 brokering, giving away, transferring, or selling a household
167 pet. However, a professional breeder is not considered a
168 qualified breeder until any pending report of a noncompliance
169 violation is finally adjudicated.
170 (2) A retail pet store may not display, offer for sale,
171 deliver, barter, auction, broker, give away, transfer, or sell
172 any household pet from the store unless such pet was acquired
173 from one of the following sources:
174 (a) A qualified breeder.
175 (b) A person who, pursuant to 9 C.F.R. s. 2.1(a)(3)(ii)
176 (vii), is exempt from licensure by the United States Department
177 of Agriculture.
178 (c) An animal rescue.
179 (d) An animal shelter.
180 (e) A pet broker; however, if the pet broker acquires the
181 pet from a professional breeder, the breeder must be a qualified
182 breeder.
183 (3) A retail pet store may not sell, deliver, barter,
184 auction, broker, give away, or transfer any household pet:
185 (a) Younger than 8 weeks of age.
186 (b) That has not been implanted with an International
187 Organization for Standardization (ISO) identification microchip.
188 (c) That does not have a valid veterinary certification,
189 including the United States Interstate and International
190 Certificate of Health Examination for Small Animals prescribed
191 by the United States Department of Agriculture or the official
192 certificate of veterinary inspection prescribed by the
193 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services pursuant to s.
194 828.29.
195 (d) To a person younger than 18 years of age, as verified
196 by a valid driver license, state identification card, or other
197 government-issued identification card bearing a photograph of
198 the cardholder.
199 (e) Acquired from a qualified breeder or pet broker, unless
200 the retail pet store provides to the buyer acquiring the pet,
201 before completing the transaction, a written certification that
202 includes the following:
203 1. The name, address, and, if applicable, United States
204 Department of Agriculture license number of the breeder who bred
205 the household pet.
206 2. An electronic or paper copy of the breeder’s most recent
207 United States Department of Agriculture inspection report, if
208 applicable.
209 3. The household pet’s date of birth, if known.
210 4. The date the retail pet store took possession of the
211 household pet.
212 5. The breed, gender, color, and any identifying marks of
213 the household pet.
214 6. A signed statement by the retail pet store’s Florida
215 licensed veterinarian, in a format prescribed by the department,
216 which describes any known disease, illness, or congenital or
217 hereditary condition that adversely affects the health of the
218 household pet at the time of examination.
219 7. A document signed by the owner or a manager or an
220 employee of the retail pet store certifying that all information
221 required to be provided to the person acquiring the household
222 pet under this paragraph is accurate.
223
224 A retail pet store shall keep an electronic or paper copy of the
225 certification for at least 3 years after the date the buyer
226 acquires the household pet. The owner or a manager or an
227 employee of a retail pet store may not fraudulently alter or
228 provide false information on a certification provided in
229 accordance with this paragraph.
230 (4) A licensed retail pet store shall provide the buyer of
231 a household pet with all of the following information:
232 (a) The pet’s microchip identification number.
233 (b) The complete name, address, and telephone number of all
234 professional breeders, pet brokers, or other persons who kept,
235 housed, or maintained the pet before the retail pet store took
236 possession of the animal or proof that the pet was acquired
237 through an animal rescue or animal shelter.
238 (c) A photograph or digital image and the name and
239 registration number of both of the pet’s parents, sire and dam.
240
241 A retail pet store shall keep a copy of the documentation
242 required under this subsection for at least 3 years after the
243 date it acquired the household pet.
244 (5) A retail pet store shall provide for all of the
245 following:
246 (a) Flooring in the primary enclosures that house household
247 pets which is constructed of a solid surface or, if grid-style
248 or wire flooring is used, the surface of which is covered with a
249 rubberized or coated material that prevents a pet’s toe or foot
250 from passing through or being caught in the flooring. A retail
251 pet store shall clean all primary enclosures daily, or as often
252 as necessary to prevent accumulation of bodily waste, and keep a
253 daily sanitation log.
254 (b) An isolation enclosure with separate ventilation which
255 allows a household pet to be kept separately from other pets
256 while under veterinarian-directed isolation.
257 (c) Climate control that ensures that the ambient air
258 temperature of the retail pet store’s premises is kept between
259 67 and 78 degrees at all times. Retail pet stores shall keep
260 daily logs of the temperature. If, for any reason, the
261 temperature falls outside the required range, a corrective
262 action record detailing steps taken to adjust the temperature
263 must be kept.
264 (d) A Florida-licensed veterinarian who visits the retail
265 pet store at least twice each week to observe the condition of
266 the pets’ health and overall well-being.
267 (e) An enrichment program for puppies which consists of
268 exercise and socialization for at least two 30-minute periods
269 each day. A retail pet store must keep a log for each puppy of
270 the daily activities that the puppy participates in as part of
271 the program.
272 (f) A photograph or digital image and video footage
273 depicting each breeding facility from which the retail pet store
274 acquires household pets.
275 Section 6. Section 468.909, Florida Statutes, is created to
276 read:
277 468.909 Inspections.—
278 (1)(a) At least annually, the department shall inspect each
279 retail pet store that is subject to licensure to ensure
280 compliance with this part and with rules adopted under this
281 part. The inspection must include, but need not be limited to,
282 an audit of the records that the licensee maintains pursuant to
283 s. 468.907(3)(e) and (4).
284 (b) The department also may conduct an inspection upon
285 receipt of a complaint or other information alleging a violation
286 of this part or rules adopted under this part.
287 (2) The department shall establish procedures for
288 conducting inspections and making records of inspections.
289 Inspections must be conducted during regular business hours in
290 accordance with the department’s procedures and may be conducted
291 without prior notice. The department shall maintain a record of
292 each inspection in accordance with such procedures.
293 (3) The department may enter into a contract or an
294 agreement with one or more veterinarians to conduct inspections
295 under this section. Such veterinarians must be independent and
296 may not be affiliated with a retail pet store or an animal
297 rights advocacy organization.
298 Section 7. Section 468.911, Florida Statutes, is created to
299 read:
300 468.911 Administrative remedies; penalties.—
301 (1) The department must deny an application for issuance or
302 renewal of a retail pet store license if either of the following
303 applies:
304 (a) The licensee or applicant violates this part or any
305 rule or order issued under this part, if the violation
306 materially threatens the health or welfare of a household pet.
307 (b) The licensee or applicant, in the past 20 years, has
308 been convicted of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to,
309 regardless of adjudication, a misdemeanor or felony under
310 chapter 828 or a misdemeanor or felony under chapter 741
311 involving an act of domestic violence.
312 (2) The department may enter an order for one or more of
313 the following if the department finds that an owner of a retail
314 pet store, or a person employed or contracted by a retail pet
315 store about whom the owner knows or reasonably should have
316 known, has violated or is operating in violation of this part or
317 any rule or order issued pursuant to this part:
318 (a) Issuing a notice of noncompliance under s. 120.695.
319 (b) Imposing an administrative fine for each act or
320 omission, not to exceed the following amounts:
321 1. For a first violation, $250.
322 2. For a second violation, $500.
323 3. For a third or subsequent violation, $1,000.
324
325 Each day that a violation continues constitutes a separate
326 violation.
327 (c) Directing that the person cease and desist specified
328 activities.
329 (d) Refusing to issue or renew a license or revoking or
330 suspending a license.
331 (e) Placing the licensee on probation, subject to
332 conditions specified by the department.
333 (3) The administrative proceedings that could result in the
334 entry of an order imposing any of the penalties specified in
335 subsection (1) or subsection (2) are governed by chapter 120.
336 (4) The department may adopt rules to administer this part.
337 Section 8. Section 468.913, Florida Statutes, is created to
338 read:
339 468.913 Civil penalties; remedies.—The department may bring
340 a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction to recover
341 any penalties or damages authorized by this part and for
342 injunctive relief to enforce compliance with this part.
343 Section 9. Section 468.915, Florida Statutes, is created to
344 read:
345 468.915 Criminal penalties.—A person commits a misdemeanor
346 of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s.
347 775.083, if he or she violates either of the following:
348 (1) Section 468.905(1) or (4), relating to operation of a
349 retail pet store without a license.
350 (2) Section 468.907(2) or (3), relating to unlawful
351 practices in the sale of household pets by a retail pet store.
352 Section 10. Section 468.917, Florida Statutes, is created
353 to read:
354 468.917 Deposit of funds.—All moneys collected by the
355 department under this part from civil penalties must be
356 deposited into the department’s Professional Regulation Trust
357 Fund for use by the department for administration of this part.
358 Section 11. Section 468.919, Florida Statutes, is created
359 to read:
360 468.919 Construction.—This part may not be construed to
361 prohibit or regulate a person who offers for sale, directly to
362 the public, only dogs that the person has bred or has trained to
363 be hunting dogs, field trial dogs, sporting dogs, conformation
364 dogs, cattle dogs, police dogs, or service dogs as defined under
365 the Americans with Disabilities Act.
366 Section 12. Section 468.921, Florida Statutes, is created
367 to read:
368 468.921 Local regulation; grandfathering of existing local
369 regulations.—
370 (1) A county or municipality may not prohibit or regulate a
371 person who offers for sale, directly to the public, only dogs
372 that the person has bred or has trained to be hunting dogs,
373 field trial dogs, sporting dogs, conformation dogs, cattle dogs,
374 police dogs, or service dogs as defined under the Americans with
375 Disabilities Act.
376 (2)(a) A county or municipality may adopt an ordinance or a
377 regulation on or after July 1, 2022, which regulates, but does
378 not prohibit, the operation of retail pet stores or the
379 breeding, purchase, or sale of household pets, provided the
380 ordinances or regulations are consistent and not in conflict
381 with the requirements of s. 468.907.
382 (b) This subsection does not affect any of the following:
383 1. Any county or municipal ordinance or regulation in
384 effect on or before June 1, 2021, which prohibits the operation
385 of retail pet stores within its jurisdiction.
386 2. Any county or municipal ordinance or regulation adopted
387 before July 1, 2022, which imposes a moratorium on the
388 establishment of new retail pet stores, or that otherwise
389 regulates such stores within its jurisdiction.
390 (c) This subsection does not affect a local government’s
391 authority to levy a local business tax pursuant to chapter 205.
392 Section 13. Section 823.15, Florida Statutes, is amended to
393 read:
394 823.15 Public or private animal agencies; sterilization,
395 required for dogs and cats released; recordkeeping, and
396 disclosure requirements; microchipping.—
397 (1) The Legislature finds has determined that the
398 importation of dogs and cats into, and the uncontrolled breeding
399 of dogs and cats in, this state pose risks to the well-being of
400 dogs and cats, the health of humans and animals, and the
401 agricultural interests in this state. Importation of dogs and
402 cats from outside the United States could result in the
403 transmission of diseases that have been eradicated in the United
404 States to dogs and cats, other animals, and humans living in
405 this state. Uncontrolled breeding results in the birth of many
406 more puppies and kittens than are needed to provide pet animals
407 to new owners or to replace pet animals that have died or become
408 lost. This leads to many dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens being
409 unwanted, becoming strays and suffering privation and death,
410 being impounded and destroyed at great expense to the community,
411 and constituting a public nuisance and public health hazard. It
412 is therefore declared to be the public policy of the state that
413 every feasible means be used to reduce the incidence of birth of
414 unneeded and unwanted puppies and kittens. Determining which
415 programs result in improved adoption rates and in reduced
416 euthanasia rates for animals in shelters and animal control
417 agencies is crucial to this effort.
418 (2)(a) Each public or private animal shelter, animal
419 rescue, humane organization, or animal control agency operated
420 by a humane organization or by a county, municipality, or other
421 incorporated political subdivision, shall prepare and maintain
422 the following records required by this paragraph and make them
423 available for public inspection and dissemination for the 3
424 preceding years. The following data must will be available and
425 reported to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
426 on a monthly basis commencing July 31, 2013:
427 1. The total number of dogs and cats taken in by the animal
428 shelter, animal rescue, humane organization, or animal control
429 agency, divided into species, in the following categories:
430 a. Surrendered by owner;
431 b. Stray;
432 c. Impounded;
433 d. Confiscated;
434 e. Transferred from within this state Florida;
435 f. Transferred into or imported from out of this the state;
436 and
437 g. Born in shelter.
438
439 Species other than domestic cats and domestic dogs should be
440 recorded as “other.”
441 2. The disposition of all animals taken in by a public or
442 private animal shelter, animal rescue, humane organization, or
443 animal control agency operated by a humane society or by a
444 county, municipality, or other incorporated political
445 subdivision, divided into species. These data must include
446 dispositions by:
447 a. Adoption;
448 b. Reclamation by owner;
449 c. Death in kennel;
450 d. Euthanasia at the owner’s request;
451 e. Transfer to another public or private animal shelter,
452 animal rescue, humane organization, or animal control agency
453 operated by a humane society or by a county, municipality, or
454 other incorporated political subdivision;
455 f. Euthanasia;
456 g. Released in field/Trapped, Neutered, Released (TNR);
457 h. Lost in care/missing animals or records; and
458 i. Ending inventory/shelter count at end of the last day of
459 the month.
460 3. A public or private animal shelter, animal rescue,
461 humane organization, or animal control agency operated by a
462 humane society, or by a county, municipality, or other
463 incorporated political subdivision, which routinely euthanizes
464 dogs based on size or breed alone must provide a written
465 statement of such policy. Dogs euthanized due to breed,
466 temperament, or size must be recorded and included in the
467 calculation of the total euthanasia percentage.
468 4. Certificates of veterinary inspections for all dogs and
469 cats imported into this state.
470 (b) Records of a public animal shelter, animal rescue,
471 humane organization, or animal control agency operated by a
472 humane society must be made available to the public pursuant to
473 provisions in chapter 119.
474 (c) The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
475 shall make the data it receives pursuant to this subsection
476 available to the public on a monthly basis and in a searchable
477 format on its website.
478 (3) In furtherance of this policy, provision shall be made
479 for the sterilization of all dogs and cats sold or released for
480 adoption from any public or private animal shelter, animal
481 rescue, humane organization, or animal control agency operated
482 by a humane society or by a county, municipality city, or other
483 incorporated political subdivision, by either:
484 (a) Providing sterilization by a licensed veterinarian
485 before relinquishing custody of the animal; or
486 (b) Entering into a written agreement with the adopter or
487 purchaser guaranteeing that sterilization will be performed
488 within 30 days or before prior to sexual maturity. The shelter
489 or animal control agency shall require a sufficient deposit from
490 the adopter or purchaser, which deposit shall be refundable upon
491 presentation to the shelter or animal control agency of written
492 evidence by the veterinarian performing the sterilization that
493 the animal has been sterilized. The deposit or donation may be
494 based upon recommended guidelines established by the Florida
495 Federation of Humane Societies. Failure by either party to
496 comply with the provisions of this paragraph constitutes shall
497 be a noncriminal violation as defined in s. 775.08(3),
498 punishable by a fine, forfeiture, or other civil penalty, and,
499 in addition thereto, the deposit or donation shall be forfeited
500 to the shelter or animal control agency. Any legal fees or court
501 costs used for the enforcement of this paragraph are the
502 responsibility of the adopter. Upon the request of a licensed
503 veterinarian, and for a valid reason, the shelter or animal
504 control agency shall extend the time limit within which the
505 animal must be sterilized.
506 (4) All costs of sterilization pursuant to this section
507 shall be paid by the prospective adopter unless otherwise
508 provided for by ordinance of the local governing body, with
509 respect to animal control agencies or shelters operated or
510 subsidized by a unit of local government, or provided for by the
511 humane society governing body, with respect to an animal control
512 agency or shelter operated solely by the humane society and not
513 subsidized by public funds.
514 (5) Employees, agents, or contractors of a public or
515 private animal shelter, animal rescue, a humane organization, or
516 an animal control agency operated by a humane organization or by
517 a county, municipality, or other incorporated political
518 subdivision may implant dogs and cats with radio frequency
519 identification microchips as part of their work with such public
520 or private animal shelter, animal rescue, humane organization,
521 or animal control agency.
522 (6) Notwithstanding s. 474.2165, employees, agents, or
523 contractors of a public or private animal shelter, animal
524 rescue, a humane organization, or an animal control agency
525 operated by a humane organization or by a county, municipality,
526 or other incorporated political subdivision may contact the
527 owner of record listed on a radio frequency identification
528 microchip to verify pet ownership.
529 (7) Any public or private animal shelter, animal rescue,
530 humane organization, or animal control agency operated by a
531 humane society or any county, municipality, or other
532 incorporated political subdivision shall disclose any bite
533 history that exists for a dog before releasing the animal for
534 adoption.
535 (8) A public or private animal shelter, animal rescue,
536 humane organization, or animal control agency operated by a
537 humane society or any county, municipality, or other
538 incorporated political subdivision may not intentionally breed
539 dogs or cats for sale to the public or, in exchange for payment
540 or any other compensation, obtain a dog or cat from a person who
541 breeds dogs or cats, resells dogs or cats from a breeder, or
542 sells dogs or cats at auction. This subsection does not apply to
543 or affect the ability of a person who offers for sale, directly
544 to the public, dogs or cats that the person has bred or trained
545 on his or her own property.
546 Section 14. Subsection (9) of section 474.203, Florida
547 Statutes, is amended to read:
548 474.203 Exemptions.—This chapter does not apply to:
549 (9) An employee, an agent, or a contractor of a public or
550 private animal shelter, animal rescue, humane organization, or
551 animal control agency operated by a humane organization or by a
552 county, a municipality, or another incorporated political
553 subdivision whose work is confined solely to the implantation of
554 a radio frequency identification device microchip for dogs and
555 cats in accordance with s. 823.15.
556
557 For the purposes of chapters 465 and 893, persons exempt
558 pursuant to subsection (1), subsection (2), or subsection (4)
559 are deemed to be duly licensed practitioners authorized by the
560 laws of this state to prescribe drugs or medicinal supplies.
561 Section 15. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022.
