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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
BILL NUMBER:S2974
Title of bill
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to horses
Purpose
Removes horses from the definition of farm animals and creates equine companion definition.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Subdivision 4 of section 350 of the agriculture and markets law, as added by chapter 569 of the laws of 1995, is amended to read as follows: 4. "Farm animal", as used in this article, means any ungulate, Poultry, species of cattle, sheep, swine, goats, llamas, (horses) or furbearing animals, as defined in section 11-1907 of the environmental conservation law, which are raised for commercial or subsistence purposes. Fur-bearing animals shall not include dogs or cats. § 2. Section 350 of the agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new subdivision 6 to read as follows: 6. "Equine companion", as used in this article, means any horse so used for recreational pursuits, includ- ing but not limited to: racing, jumping, showing, rehabilitative purposes or otherwise treated in an open and known fashion as a "compan- ion animal" or "pet" as defined in subdivision five of five of this section.
Existing law
New.
Prior legislative history
S.6729 02/01/10 REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE S.3822 03/07/11- Referred to Agriculture 01/04/12- Referred to Agricul- ture
Justification
This bill would create a newly defined category to encompass equine companion animals. Under existing law horses are deemed "farm animals" and therefore excepted from the enhanced provisions of "Buster's Law" which increases penalties for attacks on companion animals. Horses, while having a utilitarian function on working farms, are also domesticated pets adored by many families and individuals throughout the state. This expanded definition serves to encompass the unique relationship horses inhabit with humans.
Fiscal implications
None,
Local 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.