In Case You Missed It: These 12 FL Laws Went Into Effect July 1

As Floridians rushed to prepare for the holiday weekend, it is possible some forgot about the dozens of new laws that went into effect in the state on July 1.

Several new laws took effect in Florida, including those centered on the "Gulf of America," animal cruelty and dangerous speeding.

In case you missed it, here is a look at 12 significant pieces of legislation — implementing heavier restrictions on dogs considered to be dangerous — that are now law in the Sunshine State:

House Bill 11: Animal Cruelty

• Requires the Department of Law Enforcement to publicly share the names of people who have violated specified animal cruelty provisions and expands sentencing for specified offenses of aggravated animal cruelty.

House Bill 279: Swatting

• Increased criminal penalties for violating use of emergency communications services which results in great bodily harm, permanent disfigurement, permanent disability or death.
• Instructs courts to order person convicted of violation to pay costs of prosecution, investigation and restitution for certain damages and injuries.

House Bill 351: Dangerous Speeding

• Provides conduct that constitutes dangerous excessive speeding.
• Requires person cited for certain driving infractions to appear at scheduled hearings.

House Bill 549: "Gulf of America"

• Requires state agencies to update geographic materials to reflect new federal designation of Gulf of Mexico as "Gulf of America."
• Mandates instructional materials and library media center collections adopted or acquired on or after specified date to reflect new federal designation of Gulf of Mexico as "Gulf of America."

House Bill 593: Dangerous Dogs

• Enacts the "Pam Rock Act"
• Commands dogs which have killed or bitten a person to a certain severity be immediately confiscated, placed in quarantine (if necessary), impounded and held
• Requires the owner of a dog subject to a dangerous dog investigation to provide certain information to an animal control authority; and, in turn, the information must be given to potential adopters.
• Provides criminal penalties for people who resist or obstruct an animal control authority.

House Bill 791: Surrendered Infants

• Makes way for certain hospitals, emergency medical services stations and fire stations to accept surrendered infants.

Senate Bill 322: Squatters

• Allows the sheriff to arrest an unauthorized person for legal cause.
• Prohibits a person from unlawfully detaining or occupying or trespassing upon commercial real property and intentionally causing a specified amount of damage.

Senate Bill 116: Veterans' Mental Health

• Adjusts the purpose of the Veteran Suicide Prevention Training Pilot Program to include specialized mental health training.
• Instructs the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to develop a plan to establish adult day health care facilities across this state to serve veterans and their families.
• Creates conditions for a home education student to participate in interscholastic athletics.
• Revises the criteria a private school student must meet to participate in a sport at a Florida High School Athletic Association member school.

Senate Bill 248: Student Sports

• Creates conditions for a home education student to participate in interscholastic athletics.
• Revises the criteria a private school student must meet to participate in a sport at a Florida High School Athletic Association member school.

Senate Bill 606: Hotel and Restaurant Guest Removal

• Allows for public food service establishments that charge an operations charge to provide specified notice
• Requires bills and receipts to contain certain information.

Senate Bill 612: Deadly Drug-Related Deaths

• Establishes an offense of murder in the third degree for fatal drug-related deaths

Senate Bill 1662: Transportation

• Requires airports to provide the Department of Transportation with the opportunity to use certain airport property for a specified purpose during a declared state of emergency, among other transportation regulations.

See the full list of bills on the WKMG website.

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