The Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice recently advanced a bill 8-0 that would require the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to post names of those convicted of animal cruelty on its website.
Sen. Tom Leek (R-St. Augustine) sponsored the bill (SB 494). Rep. Linda Chaney (R-St. Petersburg) filed a similar House version of the bill (HB 255).
The bill, known as "Dexter's Law," honors a four-year-old pit bull mix who was decapitated just hours after his adoption.
Sen. Leek explained his bill to the committee.
"SB 494 directs the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to post on its website a searchable database of those who committed crimes of animal abuse," Leeks said. "The horrific cases we witness every day highlight the need for this legislation and are a reminder that those that perpetrate this type of abuse on animals can often and do pose a threat of violence to human beings as well."
Leek mentioned that the bill's purpose would be a "vital tool" for animal welfare organizations to vet individuals looking to adopt vulnerable pets in their care.
"The access will empower them to thoroughly screen potential doctors and prevent animals from being placed in homes where they may be at risk for further abuse," Leek said.
Under Florida law, aggravated animal cruelty is a third-degree felony and scores 28 sentencing points on the criminal punishment code scoresheet.
Specifically, a prosecutor uses the scoresheets to assign points for each offense made by the criminal defendant. At sentencing, the court will use the scoresheet to determine the defendant's minimal criminal sentence.
A total of 28 points gives a judge the discretion to sentence the person convicted of the offense to jail time or probation.
Leek explained the criminal points under his proposal.
"SB 494 creates a 1.25 sentence multiplier which must be applied to defendants subtotal sentencing points to determine his or her total sentencing. The number is then used to determine the lowest permissible sentence to which the defendant can be sentenced," Leek said.
SB 494 has one more committee stop. The House bill already passed unanimously on the floor.
If passed in the Senate and signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis, SB 494/HB 255 would take effect on July 1.
