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Who cares
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Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
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.
Prohibits certain person previously convicted of a drug felony to own, possess or harbor a dog weighing 20 lbs or more and trained to attack or exhibiting viciousness
In Assembly Committee · Codes · Sponsor Jonathan Bing
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the penal law, in relation to restricting ownership of vicious dogs
Purpose
To prohibit those convicted within the past five years of a felony crime related to selling or possessing a controlled substance from owning or possessing a vicious dog that can be used to perpetrate additional crimes or hinder law enforcement in enforcing drug trafficking laws.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Adds a new Penal Law section 270.40 to create a crime of owning or possessing a vicious dog for those persons that have previously been convicted of a felony for selling or possessing a controlled substance within five years of such conviction and the completion of the jail term related to that offense. A vicious dog is defined as one that weighs more than 20 pounds and has either been trained to physically attack persons or has exhibited a vicious disposition or propensity. The unlawful possession of a vicious dog is a class A misdemeanor.
Existing law
There is no crime now for possessing a vicious dog for drug dealers that use such dogs as weapons in the perpetration of the sale or possession of controlled substances.
Justification
The Penal Law prohibits convicted felons from possessing guns, knives and other dangerous instrumentalities. Since attack dogs are commonly used by drug dealers in the place of guns in the pursuit of their drug trade, the possession of these live "weapons" in place of a gun should also be criminalized. In addition, the police would be protected when arresting recidivist drug dealers. The law would also protect the general public from these dangerous animals.
Legislative history
S.230-A of 2007/2008
Fiscal implications
None.
Local fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
180 days after is shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.