No. CS/CS/CS/HB 1521
Filed under Criminal Justice.
Domestic Animals; Requires FDLE to post on its website specified information relating to individuals convicted of specified animal cruelty offenses; requires clerk of each court & county detention facility to provide FDLE with such information; requires pet dealers to disclose financing terms before sale of animals & provide copies of specified medical records to consumers; revises provisions relating to purchase, exchange, & return of animals; authorizes certain actions for contestation of veterinary expenses or demands of pet dealer for refund or exchange; provides for award of punitive damages; provides that certain violations constitute unfair method of competition or unfair or deceptive act or practice & subject to penalties; requires DBPR to post on its website certain best management practices & information related to selection of breeders, purchase of animals, & animal cruelty.
Plain English Summary
AI-GENERATEDPet dealers must disclose all financing terms before selling an animal and provide copies of all prior medical records to the buyer.
Consumers have 30 days to return a sick animal for a full refund, including interest and fees, or exchange it for a healthy one.
Courts may award punitive damages of at least $2,500 to consumers who sue pet dealers for selling unfit animals.
The Department of Law Enforcement must post detailed criminal records of individuals convicted of animal cruelty on its website.
AIRequires the Department of Law Enforcement to publish detailed personal and case data for anyone convicted of or pleading guilty to animal cruelty, and mandates that court clerks and detention facilities supply this data to the department.
AIProhibits pet dealers from completing a sale until they have disclosed all financing terms and provided the consumer with copies of every medical examination, test, and medication record for the animal.
AIExtends the window to report a sick animal from 14 to 30 days, requires dealers to terminate consumer financing without penalty upon a refund, and allows courts to award punitive damages of at least $2,500 in disputes.
AIRaises the annual sales threshold for the "pet dealer" definition to 30 animals, excludes certain not-for-profit entities, and subjects any violation of the section to penalties for unfair or deceptive acts under Chapter 501.
AIRequires the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to develop and post voluntary standards of care for dog breeders, along with public guidance on identifying responsible breeders and reporting animal cruelty.