CS/HB 87 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0087-01-c1
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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
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to taking of bears; providing a short 2
title; creating s. 379.40411, F.S.; providing an 3
exemption from penalties for the taking of bears 4
without permits or authorizations under specified 5
conditions; requiring the disposal of such bears by 6
the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; 7
prohibiting certain possession, sale, and disposal of 8
such bears; requiring the commission to adopt rules; 9
providing an effective date. 10
11
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 12
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Section 1. This act may be cited as the "Self Defense 14
Act." 15
Section 2. Section 379.40411, Florida Statutes, is created 16
to read: 17
379.40411 Taking of bears; use of lethal force in defense 18
of person or certain property. — 19
(1) A person is not subject to any administrative, civil, 20
or criminal penalties for taking a bear with lethal force if: 21
(a) The person reasonably believed that his or her action 22
was necessary to avoid an imminent threat of death or serious 23
bodily injury to himself or herself or another, an imminent 24
threat of death or serious bodily injury to a pet, or 25
CS/HB 87 2024
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0087-01-c1
Page 2 of 2
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
substantial damage to a dwelling as defined in s. 776.013(5); 26
(b) The person did not intentiona lly or recklessly place 27
himself or herself or the pet in a situation in which he or she 28
would be likely to need to use lethal force as described in 29
paragraph (a); and 30
(c) The person notified the commission within 24 hours 31
after using lethal force to take the bear. 32
(2) A bear taken under this section must be disposed of by 33
the commission. A person who takes a bear under this section may 34
not possess, sell, or dispose of the bear or its parts. 35
(3) The commission shall adopt rules to implement this 36
section. 37
Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 38