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Florida - Monday June 30, 1997 - by Marie E.Wallace
Representative Howard Futch (R) Dist.30 at (407) 722-5353 has on 6/9/97 begun drafting a bill for Floridas "98" Legislative session that will give Florida ferrets the exact same fair shake that Florida's Dog's and Cat's get ie; 10 day quarantine for vaccinated ferret's and 30 day's (in home) for un-vaccinated ferrets.

I have asked that the bill be entitled "The Mina Baxter Bill". In addition to an assigned number.Mr.Futch's assistant Tim Farante is working on a special signing of this bill by Floridas Governor Lawton Chilles; after signing the bill he will hand the pen used to sign it to (soon to be) 15 year old Mina Baxter (Fl.'s "93" Robert Jacobs. Mina lost her Rascal to Public Health Officers).

Although Mr. Futch is doing all of the foot work on this bill we are still in dire need of a Senate sponsor. Once the rough draft is prepared we plan to approach a senator outside of Brevard County. (It is considered to be a good strategy to have support 'across' county lines.) Senator Charlie Bronson Dist. 18 (407) 779-1155 is within Brevard. Mr. Bronson happens to be the Chair of the Agricultural Committee, the committee for which this bill will go before for it's Legislative review. We hope that Mr. Bronson will, upon reading this bill will wrap it into a Committee bill.

The F.C.F.R.R.P. (Florida Coalition For Rational Rabies Policies) is looking for volunteers to organize a fund raiser that will kick off Floridas Legislative Session in 1998 with a Kodo Kare-A-Van drive in October (date not yet confirmed) starting in Jacksonville and ending in Miami. We hope to have Robert & Kathy Jacobs along with Mina Baxter with us. More details will be available as they unfold. If you are interested in helping, contact Marie Wallace at (407) 636-4819, or email her.

Date: July 28, 1997
Contact: Marie Wallace (407) 631-6494 (MWall84314@aol.com)
Hon. Howard Futch (407) 722-5353

Florida State Representative Howard Futch, District 30, will be attending the Florida Coalition for Rational Rabies Policies meeting scheduled for August 9 in Melbourne, FL.

Sponsored by: Florida Coalition for Rational Rabies Policies
Date: August 9, 1997
Time: 10:00 am
Place: Quincy's Restaurant located at 800 S. Babcock St., Melbourne FL

This meeting, held immediately following the regular monthly meeting of Brevard Ferret Lovers Rescue, will introduce the rough draft of the Mina Baxter Bill, a bill, which if passed, will grant a quarantine time for ferrets involved in bite/scratch incidents. Currently, there are no Florida State Statutes that apply specifically to ferrets, and the State Epidemiology Office is of the opinion that all such ferrets should be euthanized and tested.

Items on the agenda include a brief history of the Coalition's formation, Florida State's current policies regarding ferrets, details on the legislative process, and a rough draft of the Mina Baxter Bill will be distributed. Interested parties will be given information on how they may assist in this initiative.

Marie Wallace, Chairman of Florida Coalition for Rational Rabies Policies, has requested that those wishing to attend, confirm their attendance prior to August 2. In a slightly differnet note, Ms. Wallace wishes those attending the meeting and having internet access will familiarize themselves with the text contained at the Online Sunshine Web page located at URL "http://www.leg.state.fl.us/", in particular, the "Citizen's Guide to Legislature" area.

Ms. Wallace closes by stating, "We know that all of our guests will have fun as we learn together in an atmosphere of optimism, hope and unity."

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© Ilena E. Ayala Last modified on Friday, August 1, 1997