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History
- Referred to agriculture
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 56–2
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.501
- 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.
Enact Phoenix's law relating to increasing certain penalties for aggravated cruelty to animals
In Assembly Committee · Agriculture · Sponsor Sean Ryan
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S2129
Title of bill
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to increasing certain penalties for aggravated cruelty to animals
Purpose or general idea of bill
This legislation deemed "Phoenix's Law" would double the penalties for aggravated cruelty to animals as well as require the individual to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 sets the title for this act as Phoenix's Law.
Section 2 states that aggravated cruelty to animals shall have a maximum punishment of up to four years in prison and a fine not to exceed ten thousand dollars. Further the court shall require any defendant convicted under this statute to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
Section 3 is the effective date.
Justification
Current laws for aggravated animal cruelty are too lax and must be made stronger. It has been proven that youthful offenders who participate in animal cruelty are statistically significantly more likely to continue and engage in other criminally violent endeavors. By strengthening the penalties for this act and requiring psychiatric evaluation and if necessary treatment we will be able to better protect our animals as well as the public as a whole.
On October 29th Phoenix a five and a half year old Jack Russell Terrier was intentionally set on fire and miraculously survived. Phoenix had endured weeks of abuse by two individuals. Phoenix has become a rallying cry for changes to our animal abuse laws not only in the city of Buffalo and Western New York but worldwide.
Prior legislative history
New Bill
Fiscal implications
None.
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.