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Who cares
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Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to agriculture
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to the euthanasia of horses
Purpose
It is our intention to introduce a bill that will regulate the method by which governmental agencies euthanize their horses. It will prevent agencies from engaging in cruel or unjustifiable euthanasia, obligating them to make a good faith attempt to provide their horses with a new home. It will also require that all procedures for euthanasia be performed under the supervision of an appropriate specialist.
Summary of provisions
The bill will regulate the actions of departments, agencies, and authorities of state, county, city, town, and village government that, except when attempting to ease the pain or suffering of a horse in physical distress, or for the safety of the public, may not independently euthanize their horses unless they have made a reasonable attempt to sell the horse or donate it to a registered not-for-profit that will take responsibility for continued feeding and maintenance.
Except for instances in which the department or agency is seeking to ease the pain or suffering of a horse in physical distress, or for the safety of the public, it may only euthanize the horse using the services of a certified euthanasia technician, a licensed veterinarian, or a licensed veterinary technician.
Existing law
Section 374 of the agriculture and markets law
Justification
Our decision to euthanize a horse should have a medical basis; we must avoid making it an economic determination. Euthanasia is 'mercy killing,' and it is far from merciful to end the life of a service horse without reaching out to the numerous not-for-profit organizations that might gladly accept that horse. Only after a reasonable effort has been made to donate the horse should it be euthanized, and this must be performed through the services of a certified euthanasia technician, a licensed veterinarian, or a licensed veterinary technician. This bill does not infringe upon the efforts of law enforcement to euthanize a horse by other means if it is in the interest of public safety or if the horse cannot be euthanized by one of the above professionals.
Fiscal implications
None.
Local fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after becoming a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.