Florida Senate - 2016                                     SB 680
       
       
        
       By Senator Ring
       
       
       
       
       
       29-00423-16                                            2016680__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to companion animals; creating s.
    3         768.139, F.S.; defining the terms “companion animal”
    4         and “veterinarian”; authorizing the award of damages
    5         to an owner for loss of companionship in an action
    6         against a veterinarian for the death of his or her
    7         companion animal which resulted from the
    8         veterinarian’s negligence or recklessness; providing
    9         an effective date.
   10          
   11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   12  
   13         Section 1. Section 768.139, Florida Statutes, is created to
   14  read:
   15         768.139 Damages in actions against veterinarians for the
   16  death of a companion animal.—
   17         (1) For the purpose of this section, the term:
   18         (a) “Companion animal” means a domesticated animal that is
   19  in a close daily relationship with its owner.
   20         (b) “Veterinarian” means an individual who practices in
   21  veterinary medicine as regulated under chapter 474.
   22         (2) An owner, in any action against a veterinarian for the
   23  death of his or her companion animal which resulted from a
   24  veterinarian’s negligence or recklessness, is entitled to
   25  damages for loss of companionship.
   26         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2016.