HB 593 — Dangerous Dogs

(5)(4) "Proper enclosure of a dangerous dog" means, while on the owner's property, a dangerous dog is securely confined:

(a) Indoors;

(b) In a locked, fenced yard, suitable to prevent the Page 4 of 15 CODING:

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(6)(3)or "Severe(c) injury"In meansa anysecurely physicalenclosed injuryand thatlocked resultspen inor brokenstructure, bones,suitable multipleto bites,prevent orthe disfiguringentry lacerationsof requiringyoung sutureschildren orand reconstructivedesigned surgery.to prevent the dog animal from escaping.

(5)(4) "Proper enclosure of a dangerous dog" means, while on the owner's property, a dangerous dog is securely confined indoors or in a securely enclosed and locked pen or structure, suitable to prevent the entry of young children and designed to prevent the dog animal from escaping.

(1)(5)(6)(3) "Animal"Severe controlinjury" authority" means anany entityphysical actinginjury alonethat orresults in concertbroken withbones, othermultiple localbites, governmentalor unitsdisfiguring andlacerations authorizedrequiring bysutures them to enforce the animal control laws of the city, county, or state.reconstructive surgery.

In(7)(2) those"Unprovoked" areasmeans notthat servedthe byvictim anwho animalhas controlbeen authority,conducting thehimself sheriffor shallherself carrypeacefully outand thelawfully dutieshas ofbeen thebitten animalor controlchased authorityin undera thismenacing partfashion act.or attacked by a dog.

(2)(6) "Animal control officer" means any individual employed, contracted with, or appointed by the animal control authority for the purpose of aiding in the enforcement of this part act or any other law or ordinance relating to the licensure of animals, control of animals, or seizure and impoundment of animals and includes any state or local law enforcement officer or other employee whose duties in whole or in part include Page 5 of 16 CODING:

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words underlined are additions.

hb593 -02-e1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB , Engrossed 1 2025 assignments that involve the seizure and impoundment of an any animal.

(4)(7) "Owner" means a any person, a firm, a corporation, or an organization possessing, harboring, keeping, or having control or custody of an animal or, if the animal is owned by a person under the age of 18, that person's parent or guardian.

unlawful acts.— (1) An animal control authority shall investigate reported incidents involving any dog that may be dangerous and, if possible, shall interview the owner and require a sworn affidavit from any person, including any animal control officer or enforcement officer, desiring to have a dog classified as dangerous.Page 5 of 15 CODING:

(a) An animal that is the subject of a dangerous dog investigation and that has killed a human being or has bitten a human being and left a bite mark that scores 5 or higher on the Dunbar bite scale must because of severe injury to a human being may be immediately confiscated by an animal control authority;, placed in quarantine, if necessary, for the proper length of time;, or impounded;

and held.

The animal must may be held Page 6 of 16 CODING:

hb593hb593-01-c1 -02-e1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB ,593 Engrossed 1 2025 pendingdangerous. the outcome of the investigation and any hearings or appeals related to the dangerous dog classification or any penalty imposed under this section.

(a) An animal that is the subject of a dangerous dog investigation for behavior described in s.

767.11(3)(a) or (c) must because of severe injury to a human being may be immediately confiscated by an animal control authority;, placed in quarantine, if necessary, for the proper length of time;, or impounded;

and held.

The animal must may be held pending the outcome of the investigation and any hearings or appeals related to the dangerous dog classification or any penalty imposed under this section.

The owner is responsible for payment of all boarding costs and other fees as may be required to humanely and safely keep the animal pending any hearing or appeal.appeal, unless it is determined that the dog is not dangerous.

(b) An animal that is the subject of any other a dangerous dog investigation mayfor bebehavior immediatelydescribed confiscatedin bys. an animal control authority;

767.11(3)(b) may be immediately confiscated by an animal control authority;

impounded;or impounded and held.

An animal that which is not impounded with the animal control authority must be humanely and held.safely confined by the owner in a proper enclosure securely fenced or enclosed area.

AnThe animal thatshall investigationbe whichconfined isin notsuch impoundedmanner withpending the animaloutcome controlof authoritythe mustinvestigation beand humanelythe andresolution safelyof confinedany byhearings theor ownerappeals inrelated ato properthe enclosuredangerous securelydog fencedPage or6 enclosedof area.15 CODING:

The animal shall be confined in such manner pending the outcome of the investigation and the resolution of any hearings or appeals related to the dangerous dog classification or any penalty imposed under this section.

The owner shall provide the address at which the animal resides shall be provided to the animal control authority.

A dog that is the subject of a dangerous dog investigation may not be relocated or have its ownership transferred pending the outcome of the investigation and any hearings or appeals related to the dangerous dog classification or any penalty imposed under this section.

If a dog is to be destroyed, the dog may not be relocated or have its ownership Page 7 of 16 CODING:

hb593hb593-01-c1 -02-e1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB ,593 Engrossed2025 1classification 2025or transferred.any penalty imposed under this section.

The owner shall provide the address at which the animal resides shall be provided to the animal control authority.

A dog that is the subject of a dangerous dog investigation may not be relocated or have its ownership transferred pending the outcome of the investigation and any hearings or appeals related to the dangerous dog classification or any penalty imposed under this section.

If a dog is to be destroyed, the dog may not be relocated or have its ownership transferred.

The animalPage control7 authority shall provide written notification of the15 sufficientCODING: cause finding and proposed penalty to the owner by registered mail or, certified hand delivery, or service in conformance with the provisions of chapter 48 relating to service of process.

The owner may file a written request for a hearing regarding the dangerous dog classification, penalty, or both, within 7 calendar days after receipt of the notification of the sufficient cause finding and proposed penalty.

If the Page 8 of 16 CODING:

hb593hb593-01-c1 -02-e1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB ,593 Engrossed2025 1animal 2025control ownerauthority requestsshall aprovide hearing,written thenotification hearingof mustthe shallsufficient because heldfinding asand soonproposed aspenalty possible,to butthe notowner laterby thanregistered 21mail calendaror, dayscertified andhand notdelivery, sooneror thanservice 5in daysconformance afterwith receiptthe provisions of thechapter request48 fromrelating theto owner.service of process.

The owner may file a written request for a hearing regarding the dangerous dog classification, penalty, or both, within 7 calendar days after receipt of the notification of the sufficient cause finding and proposed penalty.

If the owner requests a hearing, the hearing must shall be held as soon as possible, but not later than 21 calendar days and not sooner than 5 days after receipt of the request from the owner.

(4) Upon a dangerous dog classification and penalty becoming final after a hearing or by operation of law pursuant to subsection (3), the animal control authority shall provide a written final order to the owner by registered mail or, certified hand delivery or serviceservice. in conformance with the provisions of chapter 48 relating to service of process.

If the dog is not held by the animal control authority, the owner must confine the dog in a proper enclosurePage securely8 fenced or enclosed area pending resolution of the15 appeal.CODING:

Each applicable local governing authority must establish appeal procedures that conform to this subsection.

(5)(a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b), the owner of a dog classified as a dangerous dog shall do all of the following:

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hb593hb593-01-c1 -02-e1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB ,593 Engrossed2025 1enclosure 2025securely 1.fenced or enclosed area pending resolution of the appeal.

Each applicable local governing authority must establish appeal procedures that conform to this subsection.

(5)(a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b), the owner of a dog classified as a dangerous dog shall do all of the following:

1.

Any person who knowingly and willfully removes a microchipPage implanted9 pursuant to this sub-subparagraph commits a felony of the15 thirdCODING: degree, punishable as provided in s.

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

hb593-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB 593 2025 microchip implanted pursuant to this sub-subparagraph commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s.

PageThe 10appropriate governmental unit may impose an annual fee for the issuance of 16certificates CODING:of registration required by this section.

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words underlined are additions.

hb593 -02-e1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB , Engrossed 1 2025 The appropriate governmental unit may impose an annual fee for the issuance of certificates of registration required by this section.

3.3.2.

4.4.a.

Before selling or giving away the a dangerous dog,dog is sold or given away, the owner shall provide the name, address, and telephone number of the new owner to the animal control authority.Page 10 of 15 CODING:

a.

The new owner must comply with all of the requirements of this section and any implementing local ordinances, even if the animal is moved from one local jurisdiction to another within this the state, and.

The animal control officer must notify the animal control authority be notified by the owner of Page 11 of 16 CODING:

hb593hb593-01-c1 -02-e1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB ,593 Engrossed 1 2025 aauthority. dog classified as dangerous that the dog is in the authority's his or her jurisdiction.

The new owner must comply with all of the requirements of this section and any implementing local ordinances, even if the animal is moved from one local jurisdiction to another within this the state, and.

The animal control officer must notify the animal control authority be notified by the owner of a dog classified as dangerous that the dog is in the authority's his or her jurisdiction.

If athe dangerous dog hasis killedsurrendered to a humanpublic being or hasprivate bittenanimal shelter, a humanhumane beingorganization, andor leftan animal control agency operated by a bitehumane markorganization thator scoresby 5a county, municipality, or higherother onincorporated political subdivision, the Dunbarentity bitemust scalepost andsignage ison surrenderedthe dog's enclosure to aninform animalpotential controladopters authority,that the authoritydog musthas humanelybeen euthanizedeclared dangerous and inform any adopter of the dog.dog owner's requirements under this section.

c.

For any other dangerous dog that is surrendered to an animal control authority, the authority may humanely euthanize the dog.

If the animal control authority elects to place the animal for adoption, it must post signage on the dog's enclosure to inform potential adopters that the dog has been declared dangerous and inform any adopter of the dog owner's requirements under this section.

The animal control authority must provide a person who adopts a dangerous dog with a copy of the declaration and must require them to sign a contract with the authority agreeing to abide by the requirements of the declaration.

The owner may exercise the dog on the owner's property in a proper enclosure securely fenced or enclosed area that does not have a top, without a muzzle or leash, if the dog remains within the owner's his or her sight and only members of the immediate Page 1211 of 1615 CODING:

hb593hb593-01-c1 -02-e1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB ,593 Engrossed 1 2025 top, without a muzzle or leash, if the dog remains within the owner's his or her sight and only members of the immediate household or persons 18 years of age or older, if applicable, are allowed in the enclosure when the dog is present.

(7) A person who violates any provision of this section commits a noncriminal infraction, punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 per violation.violation $500.

In addition, any person who resists or obstructs an animal control authority in enforcing this section commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as Page 13 of 16 CODING:

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hb593 -02-e1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB , Engrossed 1 2025 provided in s.

775.082 or s.

775.083 $500.

destruction.— (1)Page If12 a dog that has previously been declared dangerous attacks or bites a person or a domestic animal without provocation, the owner commits is guilty of a15 misdemeanorCODING: of the first degree, punishable as provided in s.

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words underlined are additions.

hb593-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB 593 2025 (1) If a dog that has previously been declared dangerous attacks or bites a person or a domestic animal without provocation, the owner commits is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s.

(2) If a dog that has previously been declared dangerous attacks and causes severe injury to or death of any human, the owner commits is guilty of a felony of the second third degree, punishable as provided in s.

In addition, The dog must shall be immediately confiscated by an Pageanimal 14control ofauthority;, 16placed CODING:in quarantine, if necessary, for the proper length of time;

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words underlined are additions.

hb593 -02-e1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB , Engrossed 1 2025 animal control authority;, placed in quarantine, if necessary, for the proper length of time;

This 10-day time period shall allow The owner may toPage request13 aof hearing15 underCODING: s.

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hb593-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB 593 2025 to request a hearing under s.

The owner is responsible Pagefor 15payment of 16all CODING:boarding costs and other fees as may be required to humanely and safely keep the animal during any appeal procedure.

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

hb593 -02-e1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB , Engrossed 1 2025 for payment of all boarding costs and other fees as may be required to humanely and safely keep the animal during any appeal procedure.

767.136Page Attack14 orof bite15 byCODING: unclassified dog that causes severe injury or death;

penalties.—Words (1)stricken Ifare adeletions; dog that has not been declared dangerous attacks and causes severe injury to, or the death of, a human, and the owner of the dog had knowledge of the dog's dangerous propensities, yet demonstrated a reckless disregard for such propensities under the circumstances, the owner of the dog commits a misdemeanor of the first second degree, punishable as provided in s.

words underlined are additions.

hb593-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB 593 2025 767.136 Attack or bite by unclassified dog that causes severe injury or death;

penalties.— (1) If a dog that has not been declared dangerous attacks and causes severe injury to, or the death of, a human, and the owner of the dog had knowledge of the dog's dangerous propensities, yet failed to secure the dog in a proper enclosure pursuant to s.

767.01(2) demonstrated a reckless disregard for such propensities under the circumstances, the owner of the dog commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.

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