What's happening
This bill allows domestic companion animals to board MTA commuter transportation during state emergencies or evacuations, with safety guidelines.
Why it matters
Helps keep families and pets together. during emergencies, reducing the risk that people will refuse to evacuate because they can't bring their animals, which can be a major problem in disaster scenarios.
Sets clear safety requirements. for animals on commuter transport—such as leashes, tethers, or containment—helping to balance animal welfare with the safety and comfort of other passengers.
Prioritizes seating for passengers with service animals. , ensuring that the needs of people with disabilities are protected in accordance with federal law, even during chaotic evacuations.
Allows transit authorities to refuse animals if there are safety concerns. , providing flexibility to address situations where an animal's presence might endanger people or disrupt emergency operations.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Let Pets Ride MTA Evacuations
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Signed chap.378
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.431
- Substituted for A2145
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.221
Show 1 earlier action
- Referred to transportation
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.
Let Pets Ride Trains Emergencies
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Linda Rosenthal
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2589
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 13, 2017
Introduced by Sen. LANZA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to authorizing domestic companion animals to be permitted to board any commuter transportation operated by the metropolitan transportation authority or any of its subsidiaries in the event of a state emergency and evacuation of a region
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public authorities law is amended by adding a new section 1264-a to read as follows:
§ 1264-a. State of emergency; boarding of a commuter transportation by domestic companion animals. 1. For the purposes of this section:
(a) "Commuter transportation" means commuter transportation, and other related services and facilities, operated by the authority or any of its subsidiaries, including but not limited to such transportation by railroad, omnibus, marine and air, in accordance with this title.
(b) "Domestic companion animal" means a companion animal or pet as defined in section three hundred fifty of the agriculture and markets law and shall also mean any other domesticated animal normally maintained in or near the household of the owner or person who cares for such other domesticated animal. "Pet" or "companion animal" shall not include a "farm animal", as defined in section three hundred fifty of the agriculture and markets law.
2. (a) In the event that a state of emergency has been declared and an evacuation of any region of the state is in progress, the owner of a domestic companion animal shall be permitted to board any commuter transportation with such domestic companion animal so long as that animal is under the owner's control by use of a leash or tether, or is properly confined in an appropriate container or by other suitable means, provided that such boarding is authorized by and consistent with
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02396-01-7
S. 2589 2
the provisions of state disaster emergency plans or local state of emergency plans pertaining to the needs of animals and individuals with an animal under their care. The provisions of this section shall only apply to the owners of domestic companion animals who are evacuating from a region of the state affected by an emergency or disaster, or a local state of emergency, as defined in section twenty-four of the executive law.
(b) A domestic companion animal may be refused permission to board any commuter transportation, even if the animal is under the owner's control or properly confined in accordance with this subdivision if there is reasonable cause to believe that, due to attendant circumstances, permitting the animal to board would pose a health or safety hazard.
3. All passengers with service animals shall be given priority seating on all means of transportation regulated by this title in accordance with the federal "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990" (42 U.S.C. s.12101 et seq.). For the purposes of this section, "service animal" shall have the same meaning as set forth in the federal "Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990" (42 U.S.C. s.12101 et seq.) and any regulations under such act.
4. All passengers on any commuter transportation shall be provided seating before a domestic companion animal may be placed in a seat.
5. The authority is authorized to promulgate and enforce such rules and regulations as shall be necessary for the implementation of this section.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to authorizing domestic companion animals to be permitted to board any commuter transportation operated by the metropolitan transportation authority or any of its subsidiaries in the event of a state emergency and evacuation of a region
Purpose
This bill authorizes domestic companion animals be permitted to board any commuter transportation operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in the event of a state of emergency or evacuation.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one amends public authorities law by adding a new section 1264-a.
Section two sets forth the effective date.
Justification
During Superstorm Sandy, many pet owners refused to evacuate when requested because they could not take their companion animals with them to safety. This situation to refuse evacuation not only jeopardized the lives of residents and defenseless pets, but also the emergency-personnel struggling to evacuate them. This bill would authorize the MTA to allow pet owners to board any public transportation service during a declared state of emergency. This bill would provide a reasonable, common sense approach to public and animal safety.
Legislative history
2016: S.3321- Passed Senate / A.539 - Referred to Corporations. 2015: S.3321- Passed Senate / A.539 - Referred to Corporations. 2014: S.7637- Passed Senate / A.9809 - Referred to Corporations.
Fiscal implications
None to the State.
Effective date
This bill shall take effect on the thirtieth 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.