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History
- Referred to agriculture
Full text
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Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:A10541
Title of bill
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to expanding the definition of aggravated cruelty to animals to include harm to animals during the commission of a felony
Purpose or general idea of bill
To enhance laws relating to animal cruelty by including harm caused during the commission of a felony or flight therefrom.
Summary of specific provisions
Subdivision 1 of section 353-a of the agriculture and markets law, is amended to criminalize the physical injury or death of a companion animal that is caused during the course of commission of a felony or the immediate flight therefrom.
Justification
The recent case of drug traffickers cutting open the bellies of puppies to transport liquid heroin into this country has opened our eyes to the depths criminals will sink to accomplish their criminal enterprises. Although the current definition of aggravated cruelty to animals will most likely apply to the actions of these depraved individuals, we cannot ignore the potential harm to other innocent animals misused or even killed in the commission of felonies. Furthermore, in their total disregard for the lives of pets, arsonists and burglars often perpetrate horrendous acts of cruelty to human victims by not only destroying or stealing property, but also by harming their beloved animals that are either left to perish in flames or harmed in their attempt to protect their masters from intruders.
This bill enhances aggravated cruelty to animals statute by including specific provisions related to criminal activity, thus allowing society to hold criminals responsible for the full extent of the harm they cause.
Prior legislative history
2008: A.5838; Held for consideration in Agriculture 2007: A.5838; Referred to Agriculture 2006: A.9932; Held for consideration in Agriculture
Fiscal implications
None known.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.