LEGISLATIVE ISSUES

  To have pending legislation in your area listed on this site please click here.

State Issues

     There are several pressing issues that are occurring at the state level.  It is imperative that dog clubs educate their membership and encourage participation in legislative issues that will impact our sport.  It will take more than just clubs to protect your right to own pets.  The average pet owner needs to speak out also and defend their rights as well as the rights of breeders.  Where will the future puppies and kittens come from if hobby breeders were to disappear from this state?  Please take the time to educate yourself on the issues so that you will be in a better position to access the benefit of laws that impact animals. 

    Our state is under siege at the local and state levels.  The time for action is NOW! Please take time to personally visit, call, email, or send a letter to your representatives.  Please keep correspondence polite and informative.   AKC has two excellent brochures to help guide you in communicating effectively with your representatives click here and here.  NAIA Trust also has helpful suggestions which can be viewed here and here.

• SB0922/HB189-  The Florida Senate Committee on Community Affairs has generated a Senate Interim (2009-102) report recommending repeal of Florida State Statute FS 767.14 that prevents local municipalities from enacting BSL(Breed Specific Legislation).  To read the full Senate Interim Report click here.  This has developed into a bill in the House HB189 filed by Representative Thurston.   Its companion in the Senate is SB0922 filed by Senator Hill.  SB0922 has not currently been referred to any committees but was filed much later than HB189.  Please oppose these bills.

  Bill History HB189:

  Filed 12/30/08

  Referred to the following on 1/22/09: Agriculture & Natural Resources Policy(GGPC); Military & Local Affairs(EDCA); General Government Policy Counsel; Policy Council

• Bill History SB922:

• Filed on 1/22/09

• Referred to the following on 1/30/09:  Community Affairs; Agriculture, Transportation & Economic Development Appropriations

• If the State gives local municipalities the right under Home Rule to enact BSL we predict it will sweep the state.  Dog Clubs, breeders, and owners of all breeds of dogs need to contact their Senators to express your opposition to this change.  Florida Dog Owners need the protection provided by State Statute. Please write, call, email, or contact in person your Senator BEFORE the March session begins! 

• NAIA Trust of Florida has made the Cap Wiz program available to assist you in emailing your Representative.  All Senate contact info is already entered as well as talking points that can be selected for a customized letter.  To create a letter using Cap Wiz for this issue click here. 

• For detailed information on BSL, why it doesn't work, impact on dogs and their owners, costs, and where it has been repealed please click here to request a FAQ sheet or check out the BSL page.  This would be especially beneficial to those wishing to compose their own letter or for those meeting with their Representatives.

•  SB288-  There is yet another revision to Florida State Statute 828.29 (Puppy Lemon Law) filed by Senator Bullard.  To read the revision click here.   Currently there is not a companion bill in the House.  It has been referred to the following committees:  Agriculture, Judiciary, General Gov. Appropriations.  Please oppose this bill.  Some of the highlights of the revision:
• Revises the definition of "pet dealer"
• Requires genetic information to be distributed to buyers & encourages them to test their animals.  This is only one step closer to requiring genetic testing.  Looking at the mess they have made of the lemon law this will be a nightmare for breeders.
• Imposes fines of up to $10,000 for each violation of the lemon law.  Since many vets can not keep up with changes to the health certificates this could mean expensive fines for unintentional minor errors.
• Puts enforcement with the Department of Agriculture and allots an $82,000 position for the purpose of enforcement of health certificates and the lemon law.

• HB451/SB0992-requiring the Mandatory sterilization of all dogs and cats over a certain age with some exceptions.  HB451 was filed by Representative Randolph and the draft can be viewed here.  HB451 has currently not been referred to any committees.  Its companion in the Senate is SB0992 and was filed by Senator Rich.  These drafts are not identical to read the draft of SB0992 click here.  Please oppose this bill.  NAIA Trust has made their Cap Wiz tool available to assist you in contacting your Representative.  To use Cap Wiz in generating a letter on this issue click here.
• Bill History HB451:
• Filed 1/20/09
• Referred to the following on 2/06/09: Agriculture & Natural Resources Policy(GGPC); Military & Local Affairs Policy(EDCA); Public Safety & Domestic Security Policy(CCJP); General Government Policy Council
• Bill History SB992:
• Filed 1/26/09
• Referred to the following on 2/5/09:  Agriculture; Judiciary
• Some highlights of HB451 are:
• Requires all dogs and cats within 30 days after turning 4 months of age or 30 days after owner takes possession to be sterilized.
• Does include some exemptions but as written would present problems for any breeder that does not compete with their dogs.
• Would negatively impact working and hunting dog breeding programs.
• Would allow the government to decide which registration organizations are acceptable and forces membership and participation in a government approved organization on dog and cat owners.
• Gives local governments the right to enact laws relating to the sterilization of animals over a certain age.  Since local governments may not "loosen" state statute but they may strengthen it this is particularly worrisome. 
• Provides fines and penalties for violations.
• Provides for licensing of intact animals and or breeder permits.  Licensing fees will be determined at the local level and we could see fees like Palm Beach of $75.00 per animal annually.  In addition the requirement to have a breeder permit could prohibit people living in certain zoning classifications such as residential from breeding even a single litter as is the case in unincorporated Volusia County.
• Breeders who do not compete with their animals will be required to obtain a breeding permit which many counties currently do not have. 

        Some highlights of SB0992 are:

• Still reviewing this bill as it was only recently filed. 

• SB7006

Last updated 2/10/2009