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History
- Print number 5944a
- Amend and recommit to housing, construction and community development
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
- Referred to rules
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 discrimination against owners of specific breeds of dog
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Kenneth Zebrowski
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public housing law and the real property law, in relation to discrimination against owners of specific breeds of dog
Purpose of the bill
This bill will prohibit certain housing organizations from discriminating against ownership of dogs based on the dog's breed, size or weight.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill adds a new section 223-c of the public housing law as it relates to prohibiting public housing authorities from restricting a person occupancy based on a person's ownership of a dog of a specific breed, size or weight. It will not restrict a public housing authority's right to impose reasonable restrictions on the ownership of dogs, regardless of their breed, size, or weight. They would be able to restrict the ownership of dogs classified as "dangerous dogs."
Section 2 of the bill adds a new section 238-a of the real property law as it relates to prohibiting landlords from prohibiting a person occupancy based on a person's ownership of a dog of a specific breed, size or weight. It will not restrict a landlord's right to impose reasonable restrictions on the ownership of dogs, regardless of their breed, size, or weight. They would be able to restrict the ownership of dogs classified as "dangerous dogs."
Section 3 of the bill relates to the effective date.
Justification
Many housing organizations have banned ownership of dogs of specific breeds, size or weight causing hardship on families. These types of discriminatory policies reduce housing opportunities for families, limit the adoption of certain breeds such as pit bulls and further the negative stigma against these dogs.
New York State law already prohibits municipalities from enacting breed specific laws that restrict ownership. This bill would prohibit rental properties and public housing authorities from having policies that restrict ownership of dogs that are a specific breed, size or weight. This bill would not infringe a housing unit's right to restrict ownership of all dogs regardless of breed or "dangerous dogs" as defined in law.
Rousing policies should focus on preventing ownership of dangerous dogs and irresponsible dog owners from their premises, not a discriminatory ban on specific breeds. Bad dogs are a result of bad owners.
Prior legislative history
2016: A.2065-A Amend and Recommit to Housing 2015: A.2065 Died in Rules 2014: A.6949C Died on Third Reading 2013: A.6949-B Amend and Recommit to Housing as of 8/26/13
Fiscal implications for state
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.