Fla. Stat. § 828.126
Sexual activities involving animals
Redline — January 1, 2011 → current.View current text →
Current — January 1, 2022
As of January 1, 2011
(1) As used in this section, the term: (a) “Sexual conduct” means any touching or fondling by a person, either directly or through clothing, of the sex organs or anus of an animal or any transfer or transmission of semen by the person upon any part of the animal for the purpose of sexual gratification or arousal of the person. (b) “Sexual contact” means any contact, however slight, between the mouth, sex organ, or anus of a person and the sex organ or anus of an animal, or any penetration, however slight, of any part of the body of the person into the sex organ or anus of an animal, or any penetration of the sex organ or anus of the person into the mouth of the animal, for the purpose of sexual gratification or sexual arousal of the person.
(1) As used in this section, the term “sexual contact with an animal” means any act committed between a person and an animal for the purpose of sexual gratification, abuse, or financial gain which involves: (a) Contact between the sex organ or anus of one and the mouth, sex organ, or anus of the other; (b) The fondling of the sex organ or anus of an animal; or (c) The insertion, however slight, of any part of the body of a person or any object into the vaginal or anal opening of an animal, or the insertion of any part of the body of an animal into the vaginal or anal opening of a person.
(2) A person may not: (a) Knowingly engage in any sexual conduct or sexual contact with an animal; (b) Knowingly cause, aid, or abet another person to engage in any sexual conduct or sexual contact with an animal; (c) Knowingly permit any sexual conduct or sexual contact with an animal to be conducted on any premises under his or her charge or control; or (d) Knowingly organize, promote, conduct, advertise, aid, abet, participate in as an observer, or perform any service in the furtherance of an act involving any sexual conduct or sexual contact with an animal for a commercial or recreational purpose.
(2) A person may not: (a) Knowingly engage in any sexual contact with an animal; (b) Knowingly cause, aid, or abet another person to engage in any sexual contact with an animal; (c) Knowingly permit any sexual contact with an animal to be conducted on any premises under his or her charge or control; (d) Knowingly organize, promote, conduct, aid, abet, participate in as an observer, or advertise, offer, solicit, or accept an offer of an animal for the purpose of sexual contact with such animal, or perform any service in the furtherance of an act involving any sexual contact with an animal; or (e) Knowingly film, distribute, or possess any pornographic image or video of a person and an animal engaged in any of the activities prohibited by this section.
(3) A person who violates this section commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
(3) A person who violates this section commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
(4) In addition to other penalties prescribed by law, the court shall issue an order prohibiting a person convicted under this section from harboring, owning, possessing, or exercising control over any animal; from residing in any household in which animals are present; and from engaging in an occupation, whether paid or unpaid, or participating in a volunteer position at any establishment at which animals are present. The order may be effective for up to 5 years after the date of the conviction, regardless of whether adjudication is withheld.
(5) This section does not apply to accepted animal husbandry practices, including, but not limited to, bona fide agricultural purposes, assistance with the birthing process or artificial insemination of an animal for reproductive purposes, accepted conformation judging practices, or accepted veterinary medical practices.
Official source: Online Sunshine (Florida Legislature). Reproduced from public-domain Florida statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.