CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.House Bill 0575
Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 575
By Representative Silver
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the inhumane treatment of
3 exotic mammals; prohibiting the killing or
4 wounding, or allowing the killing or wounding,
5 of an exotic mammal that is tied, staked out,
6 or otherwise enclosed within a specified area
7 for the purpose of gain, amusement, or sport;
8 prohibiting the sale or purchase of an exotic
9 mammal used in violation of the act; specifying
10 certain actions that do not constitute a
11 violation of the act; providing penalties;
12 providing for recovery of costs incurred in
13 investigating and prosecuting a violation of
14 the act; providing an effective date.
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16 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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18 Section 1. (1) A person may not instigate, aid, or
19 abet as a principal, agent, employee, or participant, or
20 participate in the earnings from, or intentionally maintain or
21 allow any place to be used for the shooting, killing, or
22 wounding with a firearm or any deadly weapon of any exotic
23 mammal that is tied, staked out, or released from confinement
24 in the presence of a person who intends to kill or wound it,
25 caged or otherwise intentionally confined in a man-made
26 enclosure of 3,500 acres or less, for enjoyment, gain,
27 amusement, or sport, or for the collection of a trophy or a
28 contest prize.
29 (2) A person may not purchase or sell any exotic
30 mammal used in violation of subsection (1).
31 (3) This section does not prohibit:
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 575
586-108A-97
1 (a) The lawful hunting of exotic mammals in the wild
2 or lawful fishing.
3 (b) A licensed veterinarian from treating or
4 euthanizing an exotic mammal if the veterinarian determines
5 that the exotic mammal's death is in the exotic mammal's best
6 interest and uses only means intended to minimize the exotic
7 mammal's suffering.
8 (c) The slaughter of exotic mammals for food
9 production when food production is the primary reason for the
10 slaughter.
11 (d) Biomedical research authorized under the federal
12 Animal Welfare Act, 7 U.S.C. ss. 2131, et seq.
13 (4) A person who violates this section commits the
14 inhumane treatment of exotic mammals, a felony of the third
15 degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or
16 s. 775.084, Florida Statutes. If a person violates this
17 section with respect to more than one exotic mammal, the
18 violation of the section with respect to each exotic mammal
19 constitutes a separate offense.
20 (5) The state attorney may file a civil suit under
21 this section to recover:
22 (a) Civil penalties provided by other laws or
23 ordinances.
24 (b) The costs incurred by a law enforcement agency in:
25 1. Seizing and holding an exotic mammal involved in a
26 violation of this section.
27 2. Investigating a violation of this section.
28 3. Prosecuting a violation of this section, including
29 reasonable attorney's fees and expert witness fees.
30 Section 2. This act shall take effect October 1, 1997.
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 575
586-108A-97
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2 HOUSE SUMMARY
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Provides that it is a third-degree felony to
4 intentionally shoot, kill, or wound an exotic mammal that
is tied, staked out, or released from confinement within
5 an enclosure of 3,500 acres or less for the purpose of
gain, amusement, or sport. Provides that it is a
6 third-degree felony to sell or purchase an exotic mammal
used for such purposes. Authorizes the state attorney to
7 recover the costs of investigating and prosecuting a
person who violates the act.
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