Florida Senate - 2024                                     SB 632
       
       
        
       By Senator Simon
       
       
       
       
       
       3-01682-24                                             2024632__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to taking of bears; providing a short
    3         title; creating s. 379.40411, F.S.; providing for the
    4         taking of bears without certain permits or
    5         authorizations under specified conditions; providing
    6         applicability; providing an exemption from penalties;
    7         requiring certain notification of such taking;
    8         prohibiting certain possession, sale, and disposal of
    9         such bears; requiring the disposal of such bears by
   10         the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission;
   11         requiring the commission to adopt rules; providing an
   12         effective date.
   13          
   14  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   15  
   16         Section 1. This act may be cited as the “Self Defense Act.”
   17         Section 2. Section 379.40411, Florida Statutes, is created
   18  to read:
   19         379.40411 Taking of bears; use of lethal force in defense
   20  of person.—
   21         (1)(a) The use of lethal force to take a bear without a
   22  permit or authorization required under this chapter is justified
   23  if a person feels threatened and believes that using such force
   24  is necessary to protect himself or herself on his or her private
   25  property.
   26         (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply if a person intentionally:
   27         1. Lures a bear with food or attractants for an illegal
   28  purpose, including, but not limited to, training dogs to hunt
   29  bears; or
   30         2. Provokes a bear to incite an attack.
   31         (2) A person who takes a bear in accordance with subsection
   32  (1):
   33         (a) Is not subject to any administrative, civil, or
   34  criminal penalties.
   35         (b) Must notify the commission within 24 hours after the
   36  taking.
   37         (c) May not possess, sell, or dispose of the taken bear or
   38  its parts.
   39         (3) A bear taken under this section must be disposed of by
   40  the commission.
   41         (4) The commission shall adopt rules to implement this
   42  section.
   43         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.