What's happening
This bill limits the exemption for certain animal dealers to only those selling dogs to specific research-related entities.
Why it matters
Narrows a previously broad exemption. The bill significantly restricts which animal dealers are exempt from New York's dog licensing and control laws, meaning fewer dealers will qualify for exemption and more will be subject to state oversight and regulation.
Targets research-related sales. Only animal dealers selling dogs exclusively to certain research facilities—specifically, USDA registered, federally approved, or otherwise lawfully recognized research entities—will remain exempt. This could reduce the number of dogs channeled into other markets without oversight.
Promotes animal welfare and accountability. By tightening the exemption, the bill may help prevent unregulated commercial breeding and selling of dogs, helping to curb practices that could contribute to animal abuse, neglect, or trafficking outside of legitimate research needs.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Restrict Animal Dealer Exemptions
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
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.
Limit Dog Dealer Exemptions
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor Linda Rosenthal
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1399
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 9, 2017
Introduced by Sen. AVELLA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to limiting the animal dealers exempt under the provisions of article 7 of such law relating to the licensing, identification and control of dogs
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 4 of section 107 of the agriculture and markets law, as amended by section 1 of part T of chapter 59 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
4. This article shall not apply to any dog confined to the premises of any person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of breeding or raising dogs for profit and licensed as a class A dealer under the Federal [Laboratory] Animal Welfare Act, provided such dealer sells dogs exclusively to USDA registered research facilities, or research facilities with a Public Health Services approved Animal Welfare Assurance from the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare at the National Institute of Health and to agencies of the federal government that are exempt from the Animal Welfare Act and foreign entities lawfully engaged in research.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01259-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to limiting the animal dealers exempt under the provisions of article 7 of such law relating to the licensing, identification and control of dogs
Purpose or general idea of the bill
This bill will ensure that Class A dog breeders, except those selling dogs exclusively to USDA registered research facilities, or research facilities with a Public Health Services approved Animal Welfare Assurance from the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare at the National Institutes of Health, and to agencies of the federal government that are exempt from the Animal Welfare Act and foreign entities lawfully engaged in research, are subject to the same licensing provision as other classifications of breeders within the state.
Summary of specific provisions
Subdivision 4 of section 107, contained with article 7 of the NYS Agriculture and Markets laws, shall be amended by section 1 of part (T) of chapter 59 of the laws of 2010.
Justification
While USDA Class A license holders for commercial dog breeding frequently have as many as 600 adult breeding dogs and are responsible for a significant percentage of our state's overburdened animal shelter system, these professional breeders are exempt from making contributions to state Animal Population Control Fund programs. Removing this inappropriate exception will yield additional revenue that can be applied to spay and neuter programs capable of reducing shelter populations and eliminating the unnecessary euthanasia of animals.
Legislative history
2015-16: S.7798-B/A.720 (Rosenthal) 2013-14: S.1700 (Grisanti)/A.1123 (Rosenthal) 2012: S.6218 (Grisanti)/A.7628 (Rosenthal) 2011: A.7628 (Rosenthal)
Fiscal implications
None to the State.
Effective date
This act will 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.