Senate Bill 1384

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



    Florida Senate - 1998                                  SB 1384

    By Senator Forman





    32-1621-98                                         See HB 3115

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to animals; creating s. 828.35,

  3         F.S.; providing requirements for the rabies

  4         vaccination of ferrets; providing exemptions;

  5         providing for rabies vaccination certificates;

  6         providing for quarantine according to rules;

  7         providing a penalty; providing an effective

  8         date.

  9

10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

11

12         Section 1.  Section 828.35, Florida Statutes, is

13  created to read:

14         828.35  Rabies vaccination of ferrets.--

15         (1)  All ferrets 4 months of age or older must be

16  vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian with a

17  United States Government-approved vaccine. The cost of

18  vaccination must be borne by the animal's owner.

19         (2)  A ferret is exempt from vaccination against rabies

20  if a licensed veterinarian has examined the animal and has

21  certified in writing that at the time vaccination would

22  endanger the animal's health because of its age, infirmity,

23  disability, illness, or other medical considerations. An

24  exempt animal must be vaccinated against rabies as soon as its

25  health permits.

26         (3)  Upon vaccination against rabies, the licensed

27  veterinarian shall provide the animal's owner and the animal

28  control authority with a rabies vaccination certificate which

29  must contain at least the following information:

30         (a)  The license number of the administering

31  veterinarian.

                                  1

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






    Florida Senate - 1998                                  SB 1384
    32-1621-98                                         See HB 3115




  1         (b)  The name, address, and phone number of the

  2  veterinarian and owner.

  3         (c)  The date of vaccination.

  4         (d)  The expiration date of the vaccination.

  5         (e)  The species, age, sex, color, weight, and name of

  6  the animal vaccinated.

  7         (f)  The rabies vaccine manufacturer.

  8         (g)  The vaccine lot number and expiration date.

  9         (h)  The type and brand of vaccine used.

10         (i)  The route of administration of the vaccine.

11         (j)  The signature or signature stamp of the licensed

12  veterinarian.

13         (4)  Beginning March 1 following the effective date of

14  this act, each ferret vaccinated according to this section

15  shall be quarantined, when necessary, according to rules of

16  the Department of Health.

17         (5)  Violation of this section is a civil infraction,

18  punishable as provided in s. 828.27(2).

19         (6)  This section does not prohibit or limit

20  municipalities or counties from enacting requirements similar

21  to or more stringent than the provisions of this section for

22  the implementation and enforcement of rabies-control

23  ordinances.

24         Section 2.  This act shall take effect January 1 of the

25  year following the year in which enacted.

26

27            *****************************************

28                          HOUSE SUMMARY

29
      Provides requirements for the rabies vaccination of
30    ferrets 4 months of age or older. Provides exemptions
      under certain circumstances. Requires rabies vaccination
31    certificates and rules for quarantine. Provides penalties
      for violations.
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