Florida Senate Bill 660, which seeks to exempt from public records requirements the identifying information about persons who foster, adopt, or receive legal custody of animals from certain shelters, is scheduled for a hearing by the Florida Senate Community Affairs Committee on Monday, January 22, 2024, at 4:00pm.
It is important that Florida residents who support transparency regarding the disposition of shelter pets and the transfers of shelter animals to, and through, Florida continue to oppose SB 660. Take action today to contact committee members and request that they do not advance SB 660. Phone and online messages can be left over the weekend.
This bill, which failed in prior years, is purportedly based on isolated incidents in which a person whose ownership of a pet had been terminated later contacted the pet’s new owner. However, SB 660 is overly broad in that would conceal identifying information of all persons (which includes individuals, foster care providers, other sheltering organizations, certain transporters, and businesses) to whom custody of an animal is transferred.
Additionally, the American Kennel Club (AKC) is concerned that SB 660 could actually conceal the chain of ownership and transfer histories of animals with diseases or parasitic conditions, or that are noted with bite histories or behavioral issues, all of which potentially threaten public and animal health.
Instead of overriding the state’s public policy of open government, AKC recommends increased enforcement of Florida’s existing comprehensive stalking and harassment laws in the event there is an additional case of a person who adopted a pet being subjected to harassment by the pet’s former owner.
SB 660 previously advanced in the Senate Committee on Agriculture on 1/10/24. View AKC’s prior alert on this legislation.
TAKE ACTION TODAY
Residents who believe Florida animal shelters should continue to be subject to public oversight are urged to contact committee members and ask them to not advance SB 660. Click on each committee member’s name, then click on “Email this Senator” to open an online message form. You can also view each Senator’s Tallahassee Office phone number on the linked webpages.
Florida Senate Committee on Community Affairs:
Chair Senator Alexis Calatayud
Vice Chair Senator Rosalind Osgood
Senator Dennis Baxley
Senator Lori Berman
Senator Jennifer Bradley
Senator Jason Brodeur
Senator Jonathan Martin
Senator Jason W. B. Pizzo
For additional information, please contact AKC Government Relations at doglaw@akc.org or 919-816-3720.