Title: Animals Confined in Unattended Motor Vehicles

Summary: Citing this act as the "Protecting Animal Welfare and Safety Act" or "P.A.W.S. Act"; prohibiting a person from confining an animal in an unattended motor vehicle under certain circumstances; providing a criminal penalty, etc.

Full Text:
An act relating to animals confined in unattended motor vehicles; providing a short title; creating s. 828.075, F.S.; prohibiting a person from confining an animal in an unattended motor vehicle under certain circumstances; providing a criminal penalty; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1.  This act may be cited as the  Protecting Animal Welfare and Safety Act  or  P.A.W.S. Act.   Section 2. Section 828.075, Florida Statutes, is created to read: 828.075  Animals in unattended motor vehicles.  A person who intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly confines an animal in an unattended motor vehicle under conditions that endanger the health or well-being of the animal due to heat, cold, lack of adequate ven tilation, lack of food or water, or other circumstances that could reasonably be expected to cause suffering, disability, or death of the animal commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2016.