Florida Senate - 2016 SB 412
By Senator Sobel
33-00399-16 2016412__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to greyhound racing injuries;
3 providing a short title; creating s. 550.2416, F.S.;
4 requiring injuries to racing greyhounds to be reported
5 on a form adopted by the Division of Pari-mutuel
6 Wagering in the Department of Business and
7 Professional Regulation within a certain timeframe;
8 specifying the information that must be included in
9 the form; requiring the division to maintain the forms
10 as public records for a specified time; specifying
11 disciplinary action that may be taken against a
12 licensee of the department who fails to report an
13 injury or who makes false statements on an injury
14 form; providing applicability; requiring the division
15 to adopt rules; providing an appropriation; providing
16 an effective date.
17
18 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
19
20 Section 1. This act may be cited as the “Victoria Q. Gaetz
21 Racing Greyhound Protection Act.”
22 Section 2. Section 550.2416, Florida Statutes, is created
23 to read:
24 550.2416 Reporting of racing greyhound injuries.—
25 (1) An injury to a racing greyhound which occurs while the
26 greyhound is located in this state must be reported on a form
27 adopted by the division within 7 days after the date on which
28 the injury occurred or is believed to have occurred.
29 (2) The form shall be completed and signed under oath or
30 affirmation under penalty of perjury by:
31 (a) The racetrack veterinarian, if the injury occurred at
32 the racetrack facility; or
33 (b) The owner, trainer, or kennel operator who had
34 knowledge of the injury, if the injury occurred at a location
35 other than the racetrack facility, including during
36 transportation.
37 (3) The form must include all of the following:
38 (a) The greyhound’s registered name, right-ear and left-ear
39 tattoo numbers, and, if any, the microchip manufacturer and
40 number.
41 (b) The name, business address, and telephone number of the
42 greyhound owner, the trainer, and the kennel operator.
43 (c) The color, weight, and sex of the greyhound.
44 (d) The specific type and bodily location of the injury,
45 the cause of the injury, and the estimated time for recovery
46 from the injury.
47 (e) If the injury occurred when the greyhound was racing:
48 1. The racetrack where the injury occurred;
49 2. The distance, grade, race, and post position of the
50 greyhound when the injury occurred; and
51 3. The weather conditions, time, and track conditions when
52 the injury occurred.
53 (f) If the injury occurred when the greyhound was not
54 racing:
55 1. The location where the injury occurred; and
56 2. The circumstances surrounding the injury.
57 (g) Other information that the division determines is
58 necessary to identify injuries to racing greyhounds in this
59 state.
60 (4) An injury form created pursuant to this section shall
61 be maintained as a public record by the division for at least 7
62 years after the date it is received.
63 (5) A licensee of the department who knowingly makes a
64 false statement concerning an injury or fails to report an
65 injury is subject to disciplinary action under this chapter,
66 chapter 455, or chapter 474.
67 (6) This section does not apply to injuries to a service
68 animal, personal pet, or greyhound that has been adopted as a
69 pet.
70 (7) The division shall adopt rules to implement this
71 section.
72 Section 3. For the 2016-2017 fiscal year, the sums of
73 $57,132 in recurring funds and $5,385 in nonrecurring funds from
74 the Pari-mutuel Wagering Trust Fund are appropriated to the
75 Division of Pari-mutuel Wagering within the Department of
76 Business and Professional Regulation, and one full-time
77 equivalent position with associated salary rate of 34,220 is
78 authorized, for the purpose of implementing this act.
79 Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2016.