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Who cares
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Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Signed chap.256
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading cal.453
- Substituted for A1205A
- Referred to codes
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.456
Show 3 earlier actions
- Print number 3955a
- Amend and recommit 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 administrative hearings and processes for pet dealers
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Amy Paulin
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S3955A
Title of bill
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to administrative hearings and processes for pet dealers
Purpose or general idea of bill
To protect dogs and cats from abusive treatment by pet dealers by requiring that administrative hearings be held to determine whether a pet dealer license should be suspended or revoked after a certain pattern of failed inspections has occurred
Summary of specific provisions
Section one amends subdivision 4 of section 404 of the agriculture and markets law, as added by chapter 259 of the laws of 2000, by providing that a hearing shall be held if a licensee has failed to correct deficiencies of a critical nature, in the sole discretion of the department, to consider whether suspension or revocation of the license is warranted. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the commissioner from taking additional actions as otherwise permitted by this section regarding such licenses prior to the occurrence of three consecutive inspections in which the licensee has failed to correct deficiencies of a critical nature.
Section two provides the effective date.
Justification
Currently, subdivision 4 of Section 404 of the agriculture and markets law provides that before a pet dealer license can be suspended or revoked, the commissioner, or a designee of the commissioner, shall hold a hearing. However, the law does not give guidance as to when a hearing should be held. Often animals are subjected to poor, or even abusive, conditions for too long a time while pet dealers are given warnings and multiple inspections occur.
This legislation mandates an administrative hearing after having three consecutive inspections in which the licensed pet dealer has failed to correct critical violations. By requiring hearings, the bad actors - those who have a pattern of being out of compliance with the laws that apply to the care of animals -- will have their licenses suspended or revoked in a timely way, preventing them from further mistreating the animals in their care.
Importantly, this bill also allows the commissioner to take any additional actions regarding a pet dealer's license prior to a licensee having three consecutive inspections with critical violations. This provision gives the commissioner the ability to quickly prevent the most egregious practices from continuing.
Prior legislative history
A.77-B, 2011 and 2012 passed assembly. Same as S.3479-C (Oppenheimer), 2011 and 2012 ordered to agriculture. A.10906, 2010 ordered to third reading rules calendar. Same as S.7655 (Oppenheimer), 2010 passed senate.
Fiscal implication
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.