This document does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives.
STORAGE NAME: h1047z1.DOCX
DATE: 5/25/2023
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF FINAL BILL ANALYSIS
BILL #: CS/HB 1047 Offenses Against Certain Animals
SPONSOR(S): Judiciary Committee, Killebrew and others
TIED BILLS: IDEN./SIM. BILLS: SB 1300
FINAL HOUSE FLOOR ACTION: 116 Y’s
0 N’s GOVERNOR’S ACTION: Approved
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
CS/HB 1047 passed the House on April 26, 2023, and subsequently passed the Senate on May 1, 2023.
Specially-trained canines are used by various public safety agencies and departments throughout Florida in K-
9 units. Such agencies and departments employ canines to assist with tracking and apprehending violent
offenders, detecting narcotics and bombs, and performing building and article searches. Additionally, some fire
departments use canines as part of arson detection programs. Though not as commonly used as K-9 units,
select law enforcement agencies throughout Florida have mounted police units, whereby specially-trained
horses are used to assist with crowd control, special events, and other additional patrol functions.
Offenses against police and other public safety agency animals occur most often while the animals are on
duty. Section 843.19, F.S., prohibits a person from:
Intentionally and knowingly, without lawful justification, causing great bodily harm, permanent disability,
or death to, or using a deadly weapon upon, a police, fire, or search and rescue (SAR) canine, or police
horse as a second degree felony;
Actually and intentionally maliciously touching, striking, or causing bodily harm to a police, fire, or SAR
canine, or police horse as a first degree misdemeanor; and
Intentionally or knowingly maliciously harassing, teasing, interfering with, or attempting to interfere with
a police, fire, or SAR canine, or police horse while the animal is performing its duties as a second
degree misdemeanor.
Section 843.01, F.S., prohibits a person from knowingly and willfully resisting, obstructing, or opposing a
specified officer, including a law enforcement officer, by offering or doing violence to the person of the officer. A
violation for resisting an officer with violence is a third degree felony. However, this prohibition does not
currently apply to resisting a police canine or police horse working at the direction of or in tandem with a law
enforcement officer.
The bill amends s. 843.19, F.S., to increase the criminal penalty for:
Actually and intentionally maliciously touching, striking, or causing bodily harm to a police, fire, or SAR
canine, or police horse from a first degree misdemeanor to a third degree felony; and
Intentionally or knowingly maliciously harassing, teasing, interfering with, or attempting to interfere with
a police, fire, or SAR canine, or police horse while the animal is performing its duties from a second
degree misdemeanor to a first degree misdemeanor.
Additionally, the bill amends s. 843.01, F.S., to prohibit a person from knowingly and willfully resisting,
obstructing, or opposing any police canine or police horse, as defined in s. 843.19(1)(a), F.S., working at the
direction of or in tandem with an officer or legally authorized person, by offering to do violence to the police
canine or police horse as a third degree felony.
The bill also amends s. 921.0022, F.S., to rank specified felony offenses under ss. 843.19 and 843.01, F.S., on
the offense severity ranking chart of the Criminal Punishment Code.
The Criminal Justice Impact Conference reviewed a similar version of the bill on March 27, 2023, and
determined the bill would have a positive indeterminate impact on prison beds.
The bill was approved by the Governor on May 23, 2023, ch. 2023-110, L.O.F., and will become effective on
October 1, 2023.
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DATE: 5/25/2023
I. SUBSTANTIVE INFORMATION
A. EFFECT OF CHANGES:
Background
K-9 and Mounted Police Units
Specially-trained canines are used by various public safety agencies and departments throughout
Florida in K-9 units. Such agencies and departments employ canines to assist with tracking and
apprehending violent offenders, detecting narcotics and bombs,
1
and performing building and article
searches.
2
Additionally, some fire departments use canines as part of arson detection programs.
3
Though not as commonly used as K-9 units, select law enforcement agencies throughout Florida have
mounted police units,
4
whereby specially-trained horses are used to assist with crowd control, special
events, and additional patrol functions, among other tasks.
5
Offenses Against Police Animals
Offenses against police animals occur most often while the animals are on duty. As such, offenses
against police horses are relatively infrequent as mounted police units are most commonly used for
non-crime related purposes. However, one instance of intentional harm occurred several years ago
when an attendee at the Gasparilla parade in Tampa punched a police horse that was being used to
patrol the event.
6
In contrast, police canines are frequently used in conjunction with high-intensity, criminal situations and
are often deployed by their handlers to chase after fleeing offenders. As a result, police canines can be
caught in the line of fire while on duty. Two recent incidents resulted in the death of an on-duty police
canine. In September 2018, three-year old Fang, a member of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office canine
unit, was shot and killed by an offender who was fleeing a scene after carjacking two women at a gas
station minutes earlier.
7
Similarly, in December 2018, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office’s canine,
three-year-old Cigo, was shot and killed by an attempted murder suspect outside of a shopping mall.
8
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office’s canine Vise suffered nine stab wounds and an arterial bleed in March
2020, after chasing a suspect who had broken into an occupied home. Fortunately, the responding
officers were able to pull the suspect away from the canine and he was rushed to the emergency
veterinarian. K-9 deputy Vise returned to the force in mid-April of 2020.
9
1
City of Orlando, K-9 Unit, http://www.cityoforlando.net/police/k-9-unit/ (last visited Apr. 19, 2023).
2
St. Petersburg Police Department, K-9 Unit, https://police.stpete.org/k-9/index.html#gsc.tab=0 (last visited Apr. 19, 2023).
3
City of Orlando, Fire Department, Special Investigative Services Division, https://www.orlando.gov/Our-Government/Departments-
Offices/Orlando-Fire-Department (last visited Apr. 19, 2023).
4
The following agencies have mounted units: Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, see http://www.escambiaso.com/portfolio/esco-
mounted-unit/ ; Marion County Sheriff’s Office, see http://www.marionso.com/mounted-unit/; Orlando Police Department, see
http://www.cityoforlando.net/police/mounted-patrol/; Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, see https://www.pbso.org/services/countywide-
operations/mounted-unit/; Pinellas Park Police Department, see https://www.pinellas-park.com/642/Mounted-Patrol; and City of St.
Petersburg Police Department, see https://police.stpete.org/mounted/index.html#gsc.tab=0 (last visited Apr. 19, 2023).
5
City of Orlando, Mounted Patrol, http://www.cityoforlando.net/police/mounted-patrol/ (last visited Apr. 19, 2023).
6
Ashley Yore, “Chad the police horse retires after 13 years of service in Tampa,” ABC ACTION NEWS (May 11, 2018),
https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-tampa/chad-the-police-horse-retires-after-13-years-of-service-in-tampa (last visited Apr.
19, 2023).
7
Colette DuChanois and Tarik Minor, “Audio, video evidence released in case of teen held in K-9’s death,” NEWS4JAX (Nov. 12,
2018), https://www.news4jax.com/news/2018/11/13/audio-video-evidence-released-in-case-of-teen-held-in-k-9s-death/ (last visited Apr.
19, 2023).
8
Mark Osborne and Jason M. Volack, “Suspect kills police dog in shootout outside mall on Christmas eve, police say,” ABC NEWS
(Dec. 25, 2018), https://abcnews.go.com/US/suspect-kills-police-dog-shootout-mall-christmaseve/story?id=60007552 (last visited Apr.
19, 2023).
9
K-9 deputy returning to force after being stabbed in the head nine times, News Channel 8 (Apr. 14, 2020), K-9 deputy returning to
force after being stabbed in the head nine times | WFLA (last visited Apr. 19, 2023).
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DATE: 5/25/2023
Section 843.19, F.S., prohibits specified offenses committed against police canines, fire canines,
search and rescue (SAR) canines, and police horses and defines related terms. Under this section, a:
“Police canine” and “police horse” means any canine or horse, respectively, that is owned, or
the service of which is employed, by a law enforcement agency or a correctional agency for the
principal purpose of aiding in the detection of criminal activity, enforcement of laws, or
apprehension of offenders;
“Fire canine” means any canine that is owned, or the service of which is employed, by a fire
department, a special fire district, or the State Fire Marshal for the principal purpose of aiding in
the detection of flammable materials or the investigation of fires; and
“SAR canine” means any search and rescue dog that is owned, or the service of which is
employed, by a fire department, a law enforcement agency, a correctional agency, a special
fire district, or the State Fire Marshal for the principal purpose of aiding in the detection of
missing persons, including, but not limited to, persons who are lost, who are trapped under
debris as the result of a natural, manmade, or technological disaster, or who are drowning
victims.
10
Under s. 843.19, F.S., any person who:
Intentionally and knowingly, without lawful cause or justification, causes great bodily harm,
permanent disability, or death to, or uses a deadly weapon upon a police canine, police horse,
fire canine, or SAR canine commits a second degree felony.
11
Actually and intentionally maliciously touches, strikes, or causes bodily harm to a police canine,
fire canine, SAR canine, or police horse commits a first degree misdemeanor.
12
Intentionally or knowingly maliciously harasses, teases, interferes with, or attempts to interfere
with a police canine, fire canine, SAR canine, or police horse while the animal is engaged in the
performance of its duties commits a second degree misdemeanor.
13
A person convicted of an offense under s. 843.19, F.S., must pay restitution for any injuries caused to
the police canine, fire canine, SAR canine, or police horse and pay the replacement cost of the animal
if, as a result of the offense, the animal can no longer perform its duties.
14
Resisting an Officer
Section 843.01, F.S., prohibits a person from knowingly and willfully resisting, obstructing, or opposing,
by offering or doing violence to the person of such officer or legally authorized person, any:
Law enforcement officer, part-time law enforcement officer, or auxiliary law enforcement officer;
Correctional officer, part-time correctional officer, or auxiliary correctional officer;
Correctional probation officer;
Member of the Florida Commission on Offender Review or any administrative aide or supervisor
employed by the commission;
Parole and probation supervisor;
County probation officer;
Personnel or representative of the Department of Law Enforcement; or
Other person legally authorized to execute process in the execution of legal process or in the
lawful execution of any legal duty.
A violation of s. 843.01, F.S., for resisting an officer with violence is a third degree felony.
15
10
S. 843.19(1)(a)-(c), F.S.
11
S. 843.19(2), F.S. A second degree felony is punishable by a term of imprisonment not exceeding 15 years and a fine of up to
$10,000, or both. Ss. 775.082, 775.083, or 775.084, F.S.
12
S. 843.19(3), F.S. A first degree misdemeanor is punishable by up to one year in the county jail and a $1,000 fine. Ss. 775.082 and
775.083, F.S.
13
S. 843.19(4), F.S. A second degree misdemeanor is punishable by up to 60 days in the county jail and a $500 fine. Ss. 775.082 and
775.083, F.S.
14
S. 843.19(5), F.S.
15
A third degree felony is punishable by up to five years imprisonment and up to a $5,000 fine. Ss. 775.082, 775.083, or 775.084, F.S.
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DATE: 5/25/2023
Criminal Punishment Code
Felony offenses which are subject to the Criminal Punishment Code (CPC)
16
are listed in a single
offense severity ranking chart (OSRC), which uses 10 offense levels to rank felonies from least severe
to most severe.
17
Each felony offense listed in the OSRC is assigned a level according to the severity of
the offense.
18
If an offense is unranked, the CPC specifies a default level on the OSRC depending on
the felony degree of the offense.
19
A person’s primary offense, any other current offenses, and prior
convictions are scored using the points designated for the offense severity level of each current
offense.
20,21
The final score calculation, following the scoresheet formula, determines the lowest
permissible sentence that a trial court may impose, absent a valid reason for departure.
22
Effect of the Bill
The bill amends s. 843.19, F.S., to increase the criminal penalty for:
Actually and intentionally maliciously touching, striking, or causing bodily harm to a police, fire,
or SAR canine, or police horse from a first degree misdemeanor to a third degree felony and
ranks the offense as a Level 2 offense on the OSRC; and
Intentionally or knowingly maliciously harassing, teasing, interfering with, or attempting to
interfere with a police, fire, or SAR canine, or police horse while the animal is performing its
duties from a second degree misdemeanor to a first degree misdemeanor.
Additionally, the bill amends s. 843.01, F.S., to prohibit a person from knowingly and willfully resisting,
obstructing, or opposing any police canine or police horse, as defined in s. 843.19(1)(a), F.S., working
at the direction of or in tandem with an officer or legally authorized person, by offering to do violence to
the police canine or police horse as a third degree felony and ranks the offense as a Level 2 offense on
the OSRC.
The bill also amends s. 921.0022, F.S., to revise the current OSRC ranking for intentionally and
knowingly, without lawful justification, causing great bodily harm, permanent disability, or death to, or
using a deadly weapon upon, a police, fire, or SAR canine or police horse from a Level 3 offense to a
Level 4 offense.
The effective date of this bill is October 1, 2023.
II. FISCAL ANALYSIS & ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT
A. FISCAL IMPACT ON STATE GOVERNMENT:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
16
All felony offenses, with the exception of capital felonies, committed on or after October 1, 1998, are subject to the Criminal
Punishment Code.
17
S. 921.0022, F.S.
18
S. 921.0022(2) and (3)(e), F.S.
19
S. 921.0023, F.S.
20
Ss. 921.0022 and 921.0024, F.S.
21
A person may also accumulate points for factors such as victim injury points, community sanction violation points, and certain
sentencing multipliers. S. 921.0024(2), F.S.
22
If a person scores more than 44 points, the lowest permissible sentence is a specified term of months in state prison, determined by
a formula. If a person scores 44 points or fewer, the court may impose a nonprison sanction, such as a county jail sentence, probation,
or community control. Id.
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DATE: 5/25/2023
The Criminal Justice Impact Conference reviewed a similar version of the bill on March 27, 2023,
and determined the bill would have a positive indeterminate impact on prison beds.
23
Per the Department of Corrections (DOC), in Fiscal Year (FY) 2018-2019, there were 206 new
commitments to prison for resisting an officer with violence under s. 843.01, F.S. In FY 2019-2020,
there were 167 new commitments, and there were 134 new commitments in FY 2020-2021. There
were 153 new commitments in FY 2021-2022. It is not known how many offenders would be added
with the expanded language.
24
Per DOC, there have been no new commitments to prison for the second degree felony under s.
843.19, F.S., in the last four fiscal years. Per the Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), for the
current first degree misdemeanor under that section, there were: 65 arrests, with 45 convictions and
4 adjudications withheld, in FY 19-20; 46 arrests, with 23 convictions and 6 adjudications withheld,
in FY 2020-2021; and 35 arrests, with 32 convictions and 2 adjudications withheld, in FY 21-22.
25
B. FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
None.
C. DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON PRIVATE SECTOR:
None.
D. FISCAL COMMENTS:
None.
23
Criminal Justice Impact Conference, SB 1300 – Animals Working with Law Enforcement Officers, March 27, 2023,
http://edr.state.fl.us/Content/conferences/criminaljusticeimpact/SB1300.pdf (last visited Apr. 19, 2023).
24
Id.
25
Id.