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Beastiality bill returns before lawmakers

By Gina Jordan

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-956482.mp3

Tallahassee,FL – Florida lawmakers will try again to make it a crime to have sexual relations with animals. Gina Jordan reports.

Since there are no sex crime statutes in Florida that apply to cases of people committing sex acts with animals, law enforcers can only charge defendants with crimes like disorderly conduct or animal cruelty. Senator Nan Rich is sponsoring the bill.

"The bill makes it a first degree misdemeanor to have sexual contact or conduct with an animal for purposes of sexual gratification. It contains the same exemptions for accepted veterinary breeding and animal judging practices as the final bill did last year."

Similar measures passed the Senate the last two years, but not the House. Rich's bill easily passed the Senate Agriculture Committee on Monday.