HB 765

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to the unlawful slaughter of horses;
3amending s. 500.451, F.S.; prohibiting specified acts
4relating to horsemeat for human consumption; providing
5penalties; increasing the classification of offenses
6relating to horsemeat for human consumption; providing for
7suspension of licenses of certain businesses for offenses
8relating to horsemeat; providing mandatory minimum
9penalties; amending s. 828.125, F.S.; revising provisions
10prohibiting certain acts relating to horses to apply to
11all horses regardless of breed; providing mandatory
12minimum penalties; providing an effective date.
13
14Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
15
16     Section 1.  Section 500.451, Florida Statutes, is amended
17to read:
18     500.451  Horse meat; offenses sale for human consumption.-
19     (1)  It is unlawful for any person to:
20     (a)  Sell in the markets of this state horse meat for human
21consumption unless the horse meat is clearly stamped, marked,
22and described as horse meat for human consumption.
23     (b)  Knowingly transport, distribute, sell, purchase, or
24possess horsemeat for human consumption that is not clearly
25stamped, marked, and described as horsemeat for human
26consumption or horsemeat that is not acquired from a licensed
27slaughterhouse.
28     (2)  A person that violates this section commits is guilty
29of a felony misdemeanor of the third second degree,
30as provided in s. 775.082, or s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, except
31that any person who commits a violation of this section shall be
32sentenced to a minimum mandatory fine of $3,500 and a minimum
33mandatory period of incarceration of 1 year.
34     (3)  In addition to any penalties provided in subsection
35(2), any license of any restaurant, store, or other business may
36be suspended as provided in the applicable licensing law upon
37conviction of an owner or employee of that business for a
38violation of this section in connection with that business.
39     Section 2.  Subsection (1) of section 828.125, Florida
40Statutes, is amended to read:
41     828.125  Killing or aggravated abuse of registered breed
42horses or cattle; offenses; penalties.-Any other provisions of
43this chapter to the contrary notwithstanding:
44     (1)  Any person who willfully and unlawfully, by any means
45whatsoever, kills, maims, mutilates, or causes great bodily harm
46or permanent breeding disability to any animal of the genus
47Equus (horse) or any animal of any registered breed or
48recognized registered hybrid of the genus Equus (horse) or genus
49Bos (cattle) commits, or any recognized registered hybrid of the
50specified genera, shall be guilty of a felony of the second
51degree, punishable as provided by s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s.
52775.084, except that any person who commits a violation of this
53subsection shall be sentenced to a minimum mandatory fine of
54$3,500 and a minimum mandatory period of incarceration of 1
55year.
56     Section 3.  This act shall take effect October 1, 2010.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.