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Who cares
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Sponsors
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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.
Relates to the prosecution of aggravated cruelty to animals
In Assembly Committee · Agriculture · Sponsor Robin Schimminger
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S2589
Title of bill
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to aggravated cruelty to animals
Purpose or general idea of bill
Provides for amendments with respect to the prosecution of aggravated cruelty to animals.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 amends section 353 of the agriculture and markets law with respect to the misdemeanor crime of cruelty to animals.
Section 2 amends section 353-a of the agriculture and markets law to include the unjustifiable torture or cruel beating, maiming, mutilation ox killing of animals within the felony crime of aggravated cruelty to animals. This section further changes the intentional element of the crime to reckless disregard for the welfare of the animal.
Section 3 provides the effective date.
Justification
Animal abusers deserve to be punished to the full extent of the law. Under current New York State law most instances of animal abuse, including the unjustified torture, maiming and killing of animals, are merely a misdemeanor. This is because a felony charge of aggravated animal cruelty requires proof of intent, an element that has been identified as extremely difficult to prove. This bill will allow the State to successfully prosecute more felony cases involving the most heinous forms of animal abuse.
Prior legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
None to New York State.
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.