Senate Bill sb1044

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    Florida Senate - 2001                                  SB 1044

    By Senator Saunders





    25-703-01

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to racing greyhounds; providing

  3         standards to ensure the welfare of racing

  4         greyhounds; providing penalties; providing an

  5         effective date.

  6

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

  8

  9         Section 1.  This act may be cited as the "Racing

10  Greyhound Protection Act."

11         Section 2.  Each owner or operator of a kennel for

12  racing greyhounds in this state must make arrangements for

13  each racing greyhound to be:

14         (1)  Properly fed, watered, exercised, and examined for

15  lameness and general health in accordance with National

16  Greyhound Association Standards.

17         (2)  Kept free of worms and parasites.

18         (3)  Properly inoculated and certified.

19         (4)  Safely transported at all times.

20         (5)  Kept free of inadmissible drugs.

21         (6)  Returned to its owner or when so instructed be

22  placed for adoption as a pet upon completion of its racing

23  career.

24         Section 3.  Each permitholder authorized to conduct

25  greyhound racing pari-mutuel pools in this state must:

26         (1)  Maintain a consistent racing surface through

27  proper daily maintenance of the race track from the beginning

28  to the conclusion of the approved race meet.

29         (2)  Provide proper maintenance of the mechanical

30  equipment necessary to conduct a race, including, but not

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    Florida Senate - 2001                                  SB 1044
    25-703-01




  1  limited to, starting boxes, racing lures, and regular

  2  replacement of insulators to prevent lure stoppages.

  3         (3)  Provide properly trained lead-outs to handle

  4  racers before each race, but there may be no more than one

  5  lead-out per greyhound for each official race. Lead-outs must

  6  be positioned around the track during each race in order to be

  7  able to act quickly if an injury or accident occurs.

  8         (4)  Provide during all racing activities a qualified

  9  and practicing veterinarian who has the necessary equipment

10  and medications to treat all injuries due to accidents or

11  illness during the racing program.

12         (5)  Provide adequate crates for housing greyhounds.

13         (6)  Provide in the compound area:

14         (a)  Necessary security to protect greyhounds at all

15  times.

16         (b)  Adequate air-conditioning and ventilation for the

17  well-being of greyhounds housed there and a working alarm

18  system to indicate a rise in temperatures within the kennels

19  when there is a power failure or air-conditioning malfunction.

20         (c)  Space for housing racers that are being retired

21  and made available for adoption. Permitholders are not

22  responsible for adoptions.

23         Section 4.  The Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering may

24  revoke or suspend the license or permit of any person who

25  violates this act or impose a fine against the violater in an

26  amount not exceeding $5,000. Punishment under this section

27  does not prohibit a prosecution for cruelty to animals or any

28  other criminal act.

29         Section 5.  This act shall take effect October 1, 2001.

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    Florida Senate - 2001                                  SB 1044
    25-703-01




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  2                          SENATE SUMMARY

  3    Provides standards for kennel owners or operators and
      pari-mutuel permitholders for ensuring the welfare of
  4    racing greyhounds. Provides penalties.

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