Changing Florida's Dangerous Dog Law - Mission Impossible?
What does it take to Change Florida's Dangerous Dog Law? It is difficult to get any bill in front of the Florida Legislature. To get a bill passed is even harder. The subject matter; dangerous dogs, is not as compelling as other bills that address more direct human concerns. Only so many bills can be heard in the legislature. How can a change in Florida's Dangerous Dog law be one of those that gets to a vote?
First, you must have a draft of the bill you want considered. It must be short, involve the most important changes necessary, and use the least amount of language change possible.
You then must decide if you want the bill to be proposed by an interest group or if you are going to find your own legislative sponsor. If you choose the former, after you provide a draft of the bill, your job is done. Lobbying, obtaining co-sponsors, babysitting the bill, and getting support is all up to the interest group. With respect to a change in Florida's Dangerous Dog law, the easiest way to succeed would be to tack the changes to F.S. 767 onto bills that involve the same subject matter. Apparently, the animal control lobby is looking to increase the penalty for moving a dog out of the jurisdiction pending a dangerous dog investigation. Tacking the F.S. 767 changes to such legislation would be the easiest way to put the issue before the Florida Legislature. The downside to this, however, is that it will be almost impossible to have the changes supported without the consent of the animal control lobby.
Unfortunately, the animal control lobby is very powerful in Tallahassee, and they have one of the best lobbyists. "Such a nice guy." Is that what should decide whether a bill gets to the floor? Of course not. It is, however, an inescapable truth.
Tomorrow I will discuss what getting your own sponsor entails.
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