Florida Senate - 2019                                    SB 1738
       
       
        
       By Senator Gruters
       
       
       
       
       
       23-01416A-19                                          20191738__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the restraint of dogs; amending s.
    3         828.12, F.S.; prohibiting a person from restraining a
    4         dog outside and unattended during a manmade disaster
    5         or a natural disaster; providing a criminal penalty;
    6         providing a fine; defining terms; providing an
    7         effective date.
    8          
    9  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   10  
   11         Section 1. Present subsection (6) of section 828.12,
   12  Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (7), and a new
   13  subsection (6) is added to that section, to read:
   14         828.12 Cruelty to animals.—
   15         (6) A person who leaves a dog outside and unattended by use
   16  of a restraint during a manmade disaster or a natural disaster
   17  commits animal cruelty, a misdemeanor of the first degree,
   18  punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or by a fine of not more
   19  than $5,000, or both. As used in this subsection, the term:
   20         (a) “Manmade disaster” means a situation in which a person
   21  has received notice from a local or governmental authority that
   22  an event attributed in part or entirely to human intent, error,
   23  or negligence, or involving the failure of a manmade system,
   24  which results in significant damage has occurred, is occurring,
   25  or may soon occur in the person’s vicinity.
   26         (b) “Natural disaster” means a situation in which a
   27  hurricane, tropical storm, or tornado warning has been issued
   28  for a municipality or a county by the National Weather Service,
   29  or the municipality or county is under a mandatory or voluntary
   30  evacuation order.
   31         (c) “Restraint” means a chain, rope, tether, leash, cable,
   32  or other device that attaches a dog to a stationary object or
   33  trolley system.
   34         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2019.