What's happening
Writing a plain-English summary… Track this bill to get it by email.
Why it matters
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred 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 Assembly Committee · Codes · Sponsor Amy Paulin
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S1853
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
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.
Summary of 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.
Section two defines the effective date as the first of November 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 will help law enforcement curb these activities by imposing 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.998-B, 2010 and 2009, Referred to Agriculture Committee. S.4963-A, 2010 and 2009, 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.