CS/HB 871 - Animal Abusers

• Creates a publicly accessible animal abuser registry maintained by the Department of Law Enforcement listing persons convicted of specified animal abuse offenses beginning January 1, 2018.

• Requires county court clerks to forward judgments and date of birth information to the department within 30 calendar days of conviction for inclusion on the registry.

• Establishes registry listing periods of 2 years for first convictions and 5 years for subsequent convictions, with removal if no additional animal abuse offense occurs during those periods.

• Authorizes courts to prohibit persons convicted of animal cruelty (s. 828.12) or sexual activities with animals (s. 828.126) from owning, possessing, maintaining, having custody of, residing with, or caring for any animal as a condition of probation.

• Requires the department to send annual notices to pet dealers, animal shelters, humane organizations, and animal control agencies informing them of the registry and newly added offenders.