What's happening
This bill increases penalties for aggravated animal cruelty committed in the presence of a child, allowing up to four years' imprisonment.
Why it matters
Recognizes the heightened psychological harm. By increasing penalties when aggravated animal cruelty is committed in front of a child, the bill acknowledges the additional trauma that witnessing such acts can cause to minors.
Targets offenders’ awareness. The bill covers situations where the perpetrator knows or should reasonably know a child is present and capable of seeing or hearing the act, aiming to address not just intentional exposure but also reckless disregard for children’s well-being.
Seeks to deter cruelty in family environments. The harsher penalty may particularly impact cases of domestic abuse, where animal cruelty is sometimes used to intimidate or emotionally harm children and other family members.
Signals broader social values. By distinguishing these cases from standard aggravated animal cruelty, New York law would emphasize the importance of protecting children from exposure to violence and its lasting effects.
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Harsher Penalties for Animal Abuse
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
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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.
Tougher Penalties for Animal Abuse
In Assembly Committee · Agriculture · Sponsor Patty Ritchie
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3845
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 30, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to aggravated cruelty to animals in the presence of a child
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 353-a of the agriculture and markets law, as added by chapter 118 of the laws of 1999, is amended to read as follows:
3. Aggravated cruelty to animals is a felony. A defendant convicted of this offense shall be sentenced pursuant to paragraph (b) of subdivision one of section 55.10 of the penal law provided, however, that any term of imprisonment imposed for violation of this section shall be a definite sentence, which may not exceed two years, except that any person who commits one or more of the acts specified in subdivision one of this section in the presence of a child may be sentenced to a period not to exceed four years. For purposes of this section, "in the presence of a child" shall mean in the physical presence of a child under the age of eighteen knowing or having reason to know that child is present and may see or hear such act.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05263-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.