Florida 2022 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H1341 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	HB 1341 2022
4	4
5	5
6	6
7	7	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
8	8	hb1341-00
9	9	Page 1 of 13
10	10	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
11	11
12	12
13	13
14	14	A bill to be entitled 1
15	15	An act relating to animal abusers; creating s. 2
16	16	943.0425, F.S.; providing definitions; requiring the 3
17	17	Department of Law Enforcement to post a publicly 4
18	18	accessible animal abuser registry on its website of 5
19	19	persons convicted of animal abuse offenses; 6
20	20	prohibiting the registry from including certain 7
21	21	information; requiring the clerk of the court in each 8
22	22	county to forward certain notice of a conviction for 9
23	23	an animal abuse offense to the department within a 10
24	24	specified time; providing requirements for the 11
25	25	registry; providing requirements for registered 12
26	26	abusers; prohibiting specified acts by registered 13
27	27	abusers; providing exceptions; prohibiting certain 14
28	28	persons and entities from selling, exchanging, or 15
29	29	otherwise transferring the ownership of an animal to a 16
30	30	registered abuser; providing exceptions; requiring the 17
31	31	maintenance of specified records; requiring the 18
32	32	department to provide certain annual notice to 19
33	33	specified entities; provid ing penalties for specified 20
34	34	violations; providing construction; amending ss. 21
35	35	828.12 and 828.126, F.S.; authorizing courts to 22
36	36	prohibit persons convicted of certain animal cruelty 23
37	37	or sexual activity with an animal violations from 24
38	38	having certain responsibilit ies for or association 25
39	39
40	40	HB 1341 2022
41	41
42	42
43	43
44	44	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
45	45	hb1341-00
46	46	Page 2 of 13
47	47	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
48	48
49	49
50	50
51	51	with an animal as a condition of probation; providing 26
52	52	an effective date. 27
53	53	28
54	54	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 29
55	55	30
56	56	Section 1. Section 943.0425, Florida Statutes, is created 31
57	57	to read: 32
58	58	943.0425 Animal abuser registration.— 33
59	59	(1) As used in this section, the term: 34
60	60	(a) "Abuser" or "animal abuser" means an adult as defined 35
61	61	in s. 985.03 who has been convicted in this state of committing 36
62	62	an animal abuse offense. 37
63	63	(b) "Animal" means a dog of the species Canis familiaris, 38
64	64	a cat of the species Felis catus, a pet normally maintained in 39
65	65	or near the household of its owner, a domesticated animal, 40
66	66	previously captured wildlife, an exotic animal, or any other pet 41
67	67	including, but not limited to, a rabbit, chick, duck, or 42
68	68	potbellied pig. 43
69	69	(c) "Animal abuse offense" means a violation of: 44
70	70	1. Section 828.12, relating to cruelty to animals. 45
71	71	2. Section 828.122, relating to fighting or baiting 46
72	72	animals. 47
73	73	3. Section 828.123, relating to killing a dog or cat with 48
74	74	the intent to sell or give away its pelt. 49
75	75	4. Section 828.125, relating to killing or aggravated 50
76	76
77	77	HB 1341 2022
78	78
79	79
80	80
81	81	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
82	82	hb1341-00
83	83	Page 3 of 13
84	84	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
85	85
86	86
87	87
88	88	abuse of horses or cattle. 51
89	89	5. Section 828.126, relating to sexual activities 52
90	90	involving animals. 53
91	91	6. Section 828.13, relating to confinement of animals 54
92	92	without sufficient f ood, water, or exercise or abandonment of an 55
93	93	animal. 56
94	94	(d) "Companion animal" means a domesticated or tamed 57
95	95	animal intended to provide companionship, to be used for 58
96	96	personal use or enjoyment, or to be raised for nonagricultural 59
97	97	purposes. The term does not include a service animal or any 60
98	98	other animal or wildlife under the exclusive jurisdiction of the 61
99	99	state. 62
100	100	(e) "Conviction" has the same meaning as in s. 775.21(2). 63
101	101	(f) "Farm animal" means a horse or an animal used in the 64
102	102	production of human or animal food, feed, or fiber regardless of 65
103	103	whether the horse or animal is actually being used or raised for 66
104	104	such purposes. 67
105	105	(g) "Pet dealer" means: 68
106	106	1. A pet dealer as defined in s. 828.29(13); or 69
107	107	2. An animal shelter, humane organizat ion, or animal 70
108	108	control agency operated by a humane organization that receives 71
109	109	funds from the state or from a political subdivision of the 72
110	110	state and that, in the ordinary course of business, engages in 73
111	111	the sale or adoption of animals. 74
112	112	(h) "Registered bree d association" means an association 75
113	113
114	114	HB 1341 2022
115	115
116	116
117	117
118	118	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
119	119	hb1341-00
120	120	Page 4 of 13
121	121	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
122	122
123	123
124	124
125	125	formed and perpetuated for the maintenance of records of 76
126	126	purebreeding of a specific breed of animals whose 77
127	127	characteristics are set forth in constitutions, bylaws, or other 78
128	128	rules of the association. 79
129	129	(i) "Service animal" means a dog or miniature horse that 80
130	130	has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a 81
131	131	person with a disability as defined in the Americans with 82
132	132	Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. s. 12102. 83
133	133	(2)(a) Beginning on January 1, 2023, the department shall 84
134	134	post a publicly accessible animal abuser registry on its website 85
135	135	that includes each person convicted of an animal abuse offense 86
136	136	on or after that date. 87
137	137	(b)1. The registry must include all of the information 88
138	138	specified in subsection (3). 89
139	139	2. The registry may not include the abuser's social 90
140	140	security number, driver license number, or any other state or 91
141	141	federal identification number. 92
142	142	(c) The clerk of the court in each county shall forward a 93
143	143	copy of the judgment and date of birth of each abuser to the 94
144	144	department within 30 calendar days after the date of conviction 95
145	145	of the abuser. 96
146	146	(d) The registry shall include the required information 97
147	147	about each abuser from the date of his or her release from 98
148	148	incarceration or, if he or she is not incarcerated, from the 99
149	149	date of his or her conviction: 100
150	150
151	151	HB 1341 2022
152	152
153	153
154	154
155	155	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
156	156	hb1341-00
157	157	Page 5 of 13
158	158	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
159	159
160	160
161	161
162	162	1. For a period of 3 years for a first conviction of a 101
163	163	misdemeanor animal abuse offense. 102
164	164	2. For a period of 5 years for a first conviction of a 103
165	165	felony animal abuse offense. 104
166	166	3. For a period of 10 years for a second or subsequ ent 105
167	167	conviction of a misdemeanor or felony animal abuse offense. 106
168	168	(e) Upon notification to the department that the criminal 107
169	169	records of an abuser have been expunged or of a successful 108
170	170	appeal of a conviction of an animal abuse offense by a 109
171	171	registered abuser, the department shall remove the registered 110
172	172	abuser's information from the registry within 10 business days 111
173	173	after such notification. 112
174	174	(3)(a) An abuser shall register with the department by 113
175	175	personally appearing at the sheriff's office in the county in 114
176	176	which he or she resides to provide the following information: 115
177	177	1. Full legal name and any aliases he or she may be known 116
178	178	by. 117
179	179	2. Current or anticipated residence address. 118
180	180	3. Date of birth. 119
181	181	4. A photograph of the front of his or her head and 120
182	182	shoulders. 121
183	183	5. A copy of his or her judgment to confirm the animal 122
184	184	abuse offense, the date of his or her conviction, and the 123
185	185	sentence imposed upon him or her. 124
186	186	(b) Every registered abuser shall personally appear at the 125
187	187
188	188	HB 1341 2022
189	189
190	190
191	191
192	192	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
193	193	hb1341-00
194	194	Page 6 of 13
195	195	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
196	196
197	197
198	198
199	199	sheriff's office in the county in which he or she resides to 126
200	200	update his or her registry information within 10 business days 127
201	201	after any change in his or her residence address or name. 128
202	202	(c) A registered abuser shall personally appear at the 129
203	203	sheriff's office in the county in which he or she resides to 130
204	204	renew his or her registration information annually on the 131
205	205	anniversary date of his or her initial registration or, if his 132
206	206	or her anniversary date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal 133
207	207	holiday, on the first business day following his or her 134
208	208	anniversary date. At such time, the registered abuser's 135
209	209	photograph and information shall be reviewed to verify accuracy. 136
210	210	(4)(a) A registered abuser may not own, possess, or reside 137
211	211	in the same residence with or on the same property as an animal 138
212	212	unless otherwise provided i n a court order. 139
213	213	(b) A registered abuser may not work with a companion 140
214	214	animal, with or without compensation, unless otherwise provided 141
215	215	in a court order. 142
216	216	(c) A registered abuser who has been determined by a court 143
217	217	to be unfit to have custody of an animal pursuant to s. 828.073 144
218	218	shall also be bound by the determinations of the court if that 145
219	219	determination was made pursuant to the same underlying facts 146
220	220	resulting in the conviction that requires the abuser to register 147
221	221	with the department. 148
222	222	(d) The state may, a t any time it deems necessary, enforce 149
223	223	or, notwithstanding any other court order, obtain a court order 150
224	224
225	225	HB 1341 2022
226	226
227	227
228	228
229	229	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
230	230	hb1341-00
231	231	Page 7 of 13
232	232	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
233	233
234	234
235	235
236	236	enjoining a registered abuser from owning, possessing, or 151
237	237	residing in the same residence with or on the same property as 152
238	238	an animal or working with a comp anion animal, with or without 153
239	239	compensation. 154
240	240	(e) This subsection does not apply to farm animals or 155
241	241	service animals unless there is an enjoinment order or an animal 156
242	242	abuse offense pertaining directly to farm animals or service 157
243	243	animals. 158
244	244	(5)(a) A pet dealer, person, or entity located in the 159
245	245	state may not knowingly sell, exchange, or otherwise transfer 160
246	246	the ownership of an animal to a registered abuser. 161
247	247	(b) Before the sale, exchange, or other transfer of the 162
248	248	ownership of an animal, the pe t dealer, person, or entity shall 163
249	249	take whatever steps necessary to ensure that the animal is not 164
250	250	being sold, exchanged, or otherwise transferred to a registered 165
251	251	abuser. 166
252	252	(c) Such steps shall include, but are not limited to, 167
253	253	posting, when possible, current signage displaying registered 168
254	254	abusers in well-trafficked, highly visible areas for public 169
255	255	viewing and in employee stock or break areas, notifying law 170
256	256	enforcement upon the recognition of a registered abuser who 171
257	257	obtained an animal in violation of this secti on, and requiring a 172
258	258	person to sign an affidavit attesting that he or she is not a 173
259	259	registered abuser before obtaining an animal. 174
260	260	(d) The pet dealer, person, or entity shall be required to 175
261	261
262	262	HB 1341 2022
263	263
264	264
265	265
266	266	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
267	267	hb1341-00
268	268	Page 8 of 13
269	269	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
270	270
271	271
272	272
273	273	maintain the required affidavits and other adequate records and 176
274	274	supporting documentation for 3 years or in accordance with the 177
275	275	required retention time set forth by business standards and 178
276	276	practices governing the particular commercial establishment and 179
277	277	record, whichever is greater, to ensure compliance with this 180
278	278	section. The state and its authorized agents may examine all 181
279	279	such records and documentation relating to compliance with this 182
280	280	section, and the pet dealer, person, or entity may be required 183
281	281	to cooperate and permit the county to examine all such records 184
282	282	and documentation relating to compliance with this section. 185
283	283	(e) It is not a violation of this section if the pet 186
284	284	dealer, person, or entity checked the registry on the 187
285	285	department's website and the abuser's name was not included in 188
286	286	the registry. 189
287	287	(f) This subsection does not apply to farm animals or 190
288	288	service animals. 191
289	289	(6) Beginning in 2024, the department shall annually 192
290	290	notify the leading registered breed associations for animals 193
291	291	covered by this section that an animal abuser registry exists 194
292	292	and encourage the associations to urge their members not to 195
293	293	sell, exchange, or otherwise transfer the ownership of an animal 196
294	294	to a registered abuser. The notice may be in electronic form. 197
295	295	(7) The department shall annually notify all pet dealers 198
296	296	as provided in subsection (8). The notice may be in electronic 199
297	297	form. 200
298	298
299	299	HB 1341 2022
300	300
301	301
302	302
303	303	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
304	304	hb1341-00
305	305	Page 9 of 13
306	306	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
307	307
308	308
309	309
310	310	(8) The annual notification specified in subsection (7) 201
311	311	shall notify all pet dealers: 202
312	312	(a) That an animal abuser registry exists that is 203
313	313	maintained by the department. 204
314	314	(b) Of new registered abusers. 205
315	315	(9)(a) An abuser who is required to initially register 206
316	316	with the department, update changes in his or her residence 207
317	317	address or name with the registry, annually renew his or her 208
318	318	registry information, comply with the prohibition on contact 209
319	319	with certain animals, or comply with any c ourt-issued enjoinment 210
320	320	order under this section and who fails to do so commits a 211
321	321	misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 212
322	322	775.082 or s. 775.083. 213
323	323	(b) Each day of a continuing violation constitutes a 214
324	324	separate violation. 215
325	325	(10) A pet dealer, person, or entity that knowingly sells, 216
326	326	exchanges, or otherwise transfers the ownership of an animal to 217
327	327	a registered abuser in violation of this section shall be 218
328	328	penalized in the following manner: 219
329	329	(a) For the first offense, a written warning. 220
330	330	(b) For a second offense, a fine of up to $500 shall be 221
331	331	imposed. 222
332	332	(c) For a third or any subsequent violation, the pet 223
333	333	dealer, person, or entity commits a misdemeanor of the second 224
334	334	degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. 225
335	335
336	336	HB 1341 2022
337	337
338	338
339	339
340	340	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
341	341	hb1341-00
342	342	Page 10 of 13
343	343	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
344	344
345	345
346	346
347	347	(11) Subsections (9) and (10) do not prevent the state 226
348	348	from taking such other lawful action in law and equity as may be 227
349	349	necessary to remedy any violation of, or refusal to comply with, 228
350	350	any part of this section, including, but not limited to, pursuit 229
351	351	of injunctive or dec laratory relief or enjoinment, or other 230
352	352	equitable relief in a court of competent jurisdiction, or 231
353	353	initiating an action to recover any and all damages that may 232
354	354	result from a violation of, or refusal to comply with, any part 233
355	355	of this section. 234
356	356	Section 2. Subsection (2) of section 828.12, Florida 235
357	357	Statutes, is amended to read: 236
358	358	828.12 Cruelty to animals. — 237
359	359	(2) A person who intentionally commits an act to any 238
360	360	animal, or a person who owns or has the custody or control of 239
361	361	any animal and fails to act, which res ults in the cruel death, 240
362	362	or excessive or repeated infliction of unnecessary pain or 241
363	363	suffering, or causes the same to be done, commits aggravated 242
364	364	animal cruelty, a felony of the third degree, punishable as 243
365	365	provided in s. 775.082 or by a fine of not more tha n $10,000, or 244
366	366	both. 245
367	367	(a) A person convicted of a violation of this subsection, 246
368	368	where the finder of fact determines that the violation includes 247
369	369	the knowing and intentional torture or torment of an animal that 248
370	370	injures, mutilates, or kills the animal, shall be ordered to pay 249
371	371	a minimum mandatory fine of $2,500 and undergo psychological 250
372	372
373	373	HB 1341 2022
374	374
375	375
376	376
377	377	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
378	378	hb1341-00
379	379	Page 11 of 13
380	380	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
381	381
382	382
383	383
384	384	counseling or complete an anger management treatment program. 251
385	385	(b) A person convicted of a second or subsequent violation 252
386	386	of this subsection shall be required to pay a minimum mandatory 253
387	387	fine of $5,000 and serve a minimum mandatory period of 254
388	388	incarceration of 6 months. In addition, the person shall be 255
389	389	released only upon expiration of sentence, is not eligible for 256
390	390	parole, control release, or any form of early release, and must 257
391	391	serve 100 percent of the court -imposed sentence. Any plea of 258
392	392	nolo contendere shall be considered a conviction for purposes of 259
393	393	this subsection. 260
394	394	(c) As a condition of probation, a court may prohibit a 261
395	395	person who violates this subsection from owning, possessin g, 262
396	396	maintaining, having custody of, residing with, or caring for an 263
397	397	animal. 264
398	398	Section 3. Section 828.126, Florida Statutes, is amended 265
399	399	to read: 266
400	400	828.126 Sexual activities involving animals. — 267
401	401	(1) As used in this section, the term: 268
402	402	(a) "Sexual conduct" means any touching or fondling by a 269
403	403	person, either directly or through clothing, of the sex organs 270
404	404	or anus of an animal or any transfer or transmission of semen by 271
405	405	the person upon any part of the animal for the purpose of sexual 272
406	406	gratification or arousal o f the person. 273
407	407	(b) "Sexual contact" means any contact, however slight, 274
408	408	between the mouth, sex organ, or anus of a person and the sex 275
409	409
410	410	HB 1341 2022
411	411
412	412
413	413
414	414	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
415	415	hb1341-00
416	416	Page 12 of 13
417	417	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
418	418
419	419
420	420
421	421	organ or anus of an animal, or any penetration, however slight, 276
422	422	of any part of the body of the person into the sex organ or anus 277
423	423	of an animal, or any penetration of the sex organ or anus of the 278
424	424	person into the mouth of the animal, for the purpose of sexual 279
425	425	gratification or sexual arousal of the person. 280
426	426	(2) A person may not: 281
427	427	(a) Knowingly engage in any sexual conduct or sexual 282
428	428	contact with an animal; 283
429	429	(b) Knowingly cause, aid, or abet another person to engage 284
430	430	in any sexual conduct or sexual contact with an animal; 285
431	431	(c) Knowingly permit any sexual conduct or sexual contact 286
432	432	with an animal to be conducted on any premises under his or her 287
433	433	charge or control; or 288
434	434	(d) Knowingly organize, promote, conduct, advertise, aid, 289
435	435	abet, participate in as an observer, or perform any service in 290
436	436	the furtherance of an act involving any sexual conduct or sexual 291
437	437	contact with an animal for a commercial or recreational purpose. 292
438	438	(3) A person who violates this section commits a 293
439	439	misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 294
440	440	775.082 or s. 775.083. 295
441	441	(4) As a condition of proba tion, a court may prohibit a 296
442	442	person who violates this section from owning, possessing, 297
443	443	maintaining, having custody of, residing with, or caring for an 298
444	444	animal. 299
445	445	(5)(4) This section does not apply to accepted animal 300
446	446
447	447	HB 1341 2022
448	448
449	449
450	450
451	451	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
452	452	hb1341-00
453	453	Page 13 of 13
454	454	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
455	455
456	456
457	457
458	458	husbandry practices, conformation judging practices, or accepted 301
459	459	veterinary medical practices. 302
460	460	Section 4. This act shall take effect October 1, 2022. 303