Taking of Bears – CS for CS for SB 632 (Florida, 2024)

• Officially cited as the "Self Defense Act," the bill creates section 379.40411 of Florida Statutes allowing the lethal taking of bears under specific self-defense circumstances
• A person faces no administrative, civil, or criminal penalty for killing a bear if they reasonably believed it was necessary to prevent imminent death or serious bodily injury to themselves, another person, or a pet, or to prevent substantial damage to a dwelling
• The person must not have lured the bear with food or attractants for an illegal purpose (such as training dogs to hunt bears) and must not have intentionally or recklessly put themselves or a pet in a situation likely to require lethal force
• The person must notify the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission within 24 hours of killing the bear, and the commission is responsible for disposing of the bear; possession, sale, or disposal of the bear or its parts by the person is prohibited
• Effective date is July 1, 2024, with the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission required to adopt implementing rules