Florida Senate - 2018                                    SB 1356
       
       
        
       By Senator Rader
       
       
       
       
       
       29-01451-18                                           20181356__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the Companion Animal Public-Private
    3         Partnership Act; providing legislative findings;
    4         providing definitions; prohibiting animal shelters
    5         from euthanizing animals under certain conditions;
    6         authorizing animal shelters to assess certain fees;
    7         providing exceptions; providing an effective date.
    8          
    9  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   10  
   11         Section 1. Companion Animal Public-Private Partnership
   12  Act.—
   13         (1) The Legislature finds that public-private partnerships
   14  between local government shelters, private shelters, and
   15  nonprofit organizations provide millions of dollars in cost
   16  savings to local governments in other states that have
   17  implemented such partnerships and that such partnerships reduce
   18  the costs associated with holding and euthanizing animals to
   19  taxpayers by transferring such costs from public agencies to
   20  private organizations, generate revenue for local governments
   21  through adoption fees, and reduce the number of animals
   22  euthanized.
   23         (2) As used in this section, the term:
   24         (a) “Animal shelter” means a public or private facility
   25  that:
   26         1. Has a physical structure that provides temporary or
   27  permanent shelter for stray, abandoned, abused, or owner
   28  surrendered animals.
   29         2. Is operated, owned, or maintained by a society for the
   30  prevention of cruelty to animals, humane society, pound, animal
   31  control officer, governmental entity, or contractor for a
   32  governmental entity.
   33         (b) “Irremediable suffering” means a poor or grave
   34  prognosis for being able to live without severe, unremitting
   35  physical pain, even with comprehensive, prompt, and necessary
   36  veterinary care, as certified in writing by a licensed
   37  veterinarian.
   38         (c) “Licensed veterinarian” means a person licensed to
   39  practice veterinary medicine in this state.
   40         (d) “Rescue organization” means an animal rescue
   41  organization, animal adoption organization, or organization
   42  formed for the prevention of cruelty to animals that is
   43  described in s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is
   44  exempt from taxation under s. 501(a) of the Internal Revenue
   45  Code.
   46         (3) An animal shelter may not euthanize an animal if a
   47  rescue organization has indicated it will take custody of the
   48  animal. In addition to any required spay or neuter deposit, an
   49  animal shelter may assess a fee, not to exceed the standard
   50  adoption fee, for an animal released to a rescue organization.
   51         (4) This section does not apply to:
   52         (a) An animal suspected of carrying and exhibiting signs of
   53  rabies, as determined by a licensed veterinarian.
   54         (b) A dog classified as dangerous pursuant to s. 767.12,
   55  Florida Statutes.
   56         (c) An animal experiencing irremediable suffering.
   57         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2018.