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Sponsors
8 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to agriculture
- Print number 998b
- Amend (t) and recommit to codes
- Reported referred to codes
- Print number 998a
- Amend and recommit to agriculture
- Referred to agriculture
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Increases the penalty for multiple convictions of torturing or failing to provide sustenance to a companion animal
In Senate Committee · Agriculture · Sponsor Suzi Oppenheimer
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:A998B
Title of bill
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to increasing the penalty for multiple convictions of torturing or failing to provide sustenance to a companion animal
Purpose or general idea of bill
To prevent animal abuse by raising the penalty for subsequent acts of cruelty which occur within five years of a conviction of this section to an E felony when such cruelty is perpetrated against a companion animal
Summary of specific provisions
Section one amends the opening paragraph of section three hundred fifty-three of the agriculture and markets law, as amended by chapter 523 of the laws of 2005, by adding language that would make any violation of this section within five years from the date of a prior conviction of any violation of this section a class E felony, punishable pursuant to the provisions of section three hundred fifty three-a of this article when such cruelty is perpetrated against a companion animal.
Section two defines the effective date as the first of December following the enactment date.
Justification
Preventing those who abuse animals from committing similar acts in the future is one of the purposes of New York's cruelty laws. Raising the penalty to a felony for subsequent acts of cruelty that occur within five years of a conviction of this section, when committed against a companion animal, will help law enforcement curb such activities and allow for the imposition of lengthier periods of court supervision or imprisonment, as deemed appropriate. Moreover, cruelty toward animals has been linked to future violence toward human victims, particularly vulnerable people such as domestic partners and children. Treating repeat offenses of animal cruelty as felonies is consonant with the goal of preventing future violence toward human and animal victims.
Legislative history
A.617, 2008 and 2007, referred to agriculture committee. A.1010, 2006 and 2005 referred to agriculture committee. A.9727, 2004 referred to agriculture committee. Same as S.3324, 2008 and 2007 referred to agriculture committee. Same as S.2798-A, 2006 and 2005 referred to agriculture committee.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
The first of December following the date of enactment.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.