HB 1783 2003
1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to pari-mutuel wagering; requiring
3	dogracing permitholders to provide a greyhound adoption
4	booth at each dogracing facility; providing for operation
5	of such booths; requiring that certain information
6	concerning the adoption of a greyhound be made available
7	to the public; requiring kennel owner or operator to
8	notify the permitholder that a greyhound is available for
9	adoption; providing procedures for public identification
10	of such greyhounds; authorizing the permitholder to hold
11	an additional charity day that is designated as "Greyhound
12	Adopt-A-Pet Day"; requiring that moneys derived from the
13	charity day be used for certain activities; authorizing
14	the Division of Pari-mutuel Wagering within the Department
15	of Business and Professional Regulation to adopt rules;
16	providing penalties; amending s. 550.1647, F.S.; defining
17	the term "bona fide organization that promotes or
18	encourages the adoption of greyhounds" for purposes of
19	distribution of certain funds; providing an effective
20	date.
21
22	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
23
24	Section 1. Greyhound adoptions.--
25	(1) Each dogracing permitholder operating a dogracing
26	facility in this state shall provide for a greyhound adoption
27	booth to be located at the facility. The greyhound adoption
28	booth must be operated on weekends by personnel or volunteers
29	from a bona fide organization that promotes or encourages the
30	adoption of greyhounds pursuant to s. 550.1647, Florida
31	Statutes. As used in this section, the term "weekend" includes
32	the hours during which live greyhound racing is conducted on
33	Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. Information pamphlets and
34	application forms shall be provided to the public upon request.
35	In addition, the kennel operator or owner shall notify the
36	permitholder that a greyhound is available for adoption and the
37	permitholder shall provide information concerning the adoption
38	of a greyhound in each race program and shall post adoption
39	information at conspicuous locations throughout the dogracing
40	facility. Any greyhound that is participating in a race and that
41	will be available for future adoption must be noted in the race
42	program. The permitholder shall allow greyhounds to be walked
43	through the track facility to publicize the greyhound adoption
44	program.
45	(2) In addition to the charity days authorized under s.
46	550.0351, Florida Statutes, a greyhound permitholder may fund
47	the greyhound adoption program by holding a charity racing day
48	designated as "Greyhound Adopt-A-Pet Day." All profits derived
49	from the operation of such charity day must be placed into a
50	fund used to support activities at the racing facility which
51	promote the adoption of greyhounds. The division may adopt rules
52	for administering the fund. Proceeds from the charity day
53	authorized in this subsection may not be used as a source of
54	funds for the purposes set forth in s. 550.1647, Florida
55	Statutes.
56	(3)(a) Upon a violation of this section by a permitholder
57	or licensee, the division may impose a penalty as provided in s.
58	550.0251(10), Florida Statutes, and require the permitholder to
59	take corrective action.
60	(b) A penalty imposed under s. 550.0251(10), Florida
61	Statutes, does not exclude a prosecution for cruelty to animals
62	or for any other criminal act.
63	Section 2. Section 550.1647, Florida Statutes, is amended
64	to read:
65	550.1647 Greyhound permitholders; unclaimed tickets;
66	breaks.--All money or other property represented by any
67	unclaimed, uncashed, or abandoned pari-mutuel ticket which has
68	remained in the custody of or under the control of any
69	permitholder authorized to conduct greyhound racing pari-mutuel
70	pools in this state for a period of 1 year after the date the
71	pari-mutuel ticket was issued, if the rightful owner or owners
72	thereof have made no claim or demand for such money or other
73	property within that period of time, shall, with respect to live
74	races conducted by the permitholder, be remitted to the state
75	pursuant to s. 550.1645; however, such permitholder shall be
76	entitled to a credit in each state fiscal year in an amount
77	equal to the actual amount remitted in the prior state fiscal
78	year which may be applied against any taxes imposed pursuant to
79	this chapter. In addition, each permitholder shall pay, from any
80	source, including the proceeds from performances conducted
81	pursuant to s. 550.0351, an amount not less than 10 percent of
82	the amount of the credit provided by this section to any bona
83	fide organization that promotes or encourages the adoption of
84	greyhounds. As used in this section, the term "bona fide
85	organization that promotes or encourages the adoption of
86	greyhounds" means any organization that provides evidence of
87	compliance with chapter 496 and possesses a valid exemption from
88	federal taxation issued by the Internal Revenue Service. Such
89	bona fide organization, as a condition of adoption, must provide
90	sterilization of greyhounds by a licensed veterinarian before
91	relinquishing custody of the greyhound to the adoptor. The fee
92	for sterilization may be included in the cost of adoption.
93	Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2003.