What's happening
This bill establishes statewide standards for microchipping dogs and cats, including technology requirements, registration, and procedures for identifying seized animals.
Why it matters
Creates universal standards for microchip technology in dogs and cats. , requiring that all microchips and readers used by veterinarians, animal shelters, and animal control officers are compatible, making it easier to identify lost pets regardless of the microchip brand.
Mandates privacy protections and transparency. regarding the collection, sharing, and dissemination of microchip identification information, ensuring owners are notified if their data is shared and that their personal information is kept secure.
Requires timely identification efforts for seized or found animals. , including checking for all forms of ID (tags, microchips, tattoos, licenses) within 24 hours, and making reasonable efforts—such as online postings and direct notice—to reunite pets with their owners.
Establishes an advisory committee with technical experts. to help shape microchip standards, ensuring regulations keep pace with technological developments and reflect practical needs of animal welfare organizations and pet owners.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Standardize Pet Microchips Statewide
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by A1839B
- Ordered to third reading cal.2121
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Print number 4570a
- Amend (t) 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.
Standardize Pet Microchips
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Linda Rosenthal
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4570--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 17, 2017
Introduced by Sen. TEDISCO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Agriculture -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to establishing microchipping standards; in relation to the registration of microchips; and in relation to the examination of seized animals and animals taken possession of
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding two new sections 111-a and 111-b to read as follows:
§ 111-a. Microchipping standards. 1. The commissioner shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations that provide for standardization of technology used in microchips implanted in companion animals that are dogs or cats and microchip readers so that such readers used by veterinarians, animal shelters, dog control officers, and animal control officers are capable of reading any chip to identify the animals and/or the owner of record. Such rules and regulations shall also provide for the collection, sharing, and dissemination of chip identification information by entities that possess and manage such information solely to promote timely notification of owners when pets are lost, while maintaining privacy protection of personal information and providing for disclosure to such owners of the sharing of such information.
2. The rules and regulations required by this section may provide for an advisory committee which shall include, but shall not be limited to, representatives of the animal microchip community who shall advise the commissioner on the technical requirements necessary in creating universal standards and access to identifying information. The members of any such advisory committee shall serve without compensation.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06539-11-7
S. 4570--A 2
§ 111-b. Registration of microchips. When microchips are implanted into companion animals that are dogs or cats and registered by, or on behalf of, such animals' owner's registration information shall be managed in compliance with regulations developed pursuant to section one hundred eleven-a of this article.
§ 2. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new section 380 to read as follows:
§ 380. Examination of seized animals or animals taken possession of. 1. Consistent with the provisions of section one hundred seventeen of this chapter and sections three hundred seventy-three and three hundred seventy-four of this article, no later than twenty-four hours, or as soon as practicable, after a companion animal that is a dog or a cat has been seized or taken possession of, except for such animals that have been surrendered by the owner, by any dog control officer, animal control officer or peace officer acting pursuant to his or her special duties, or police officer in the employ of or under contract with a municipality, or any duly incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, duly incorporated humane society, pound or shelter that is operated by or under contract to a municipality, such officer, society, pound or shelter shall take steps to:
(a) Check such animal for all forms of identification, including, but not limited to, tags, microchips, tattoos or licenses; and
(b) If practicable and if the necessary technology and equipment are available, for the purposes of this paragraph, make available to the public on the internet on a website or social media maintained by or otherwise made available to such officer, society, pound or shelter by the municipal or county government in which such officer, society, pound or shelter is located, a photograph, and a general description of the animal to assist the owner or owners in finding the animal, including the breed or breeds, if known. Information about the animal may be withheld if deemed appropriate to facilitate finding the owner or otherwise protect the safety of the animal. The notice required by this paragraph may be made by means other than the internet if use of the internet is impracticable.
2. No later than twenty-four hours or as soon as practicable after the seizure or taking possession of such animal potentially identifiable by a form of identification, including a license, tag, tattoo or microchip, or records or reports that are readily available of animals reported to be lost, reasonable efforts shall be made to identify and provide actual notice to the owner of the animal by any means reasonably calculated to provide actual notice to the owner.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law; provided however section two of this act shall take effect upon the adoption of regulations by the commissioner of agriculture pursuant to section one of this act; provided, further, that the commissioner of agriculture shall notify the legislative bill drafting commission upon the adoption of regulations pursuant to section one of this act in order that the commission may maintain an accurate and timely effective data base of the official text of the laws of the state of New York in furtherance of effectuating the provisions of section 44 of the legislative law and section 70-b of the public officers law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made on or before such date.
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 establishing microchipping standards; in relation to the registration of microchips; and in relation to the examination of seized animals and animals taken possession of
Purpose
This bill requires the standardization of technology used in microchips implanted into companion animals; requires the examination of rescued companion animals; and requires such facilities to notify owners if they are in possession of an animal they believe to be missing.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one amends the agriculture and markets law by adding two new sections 111-a and 111-b.
Section two amends the agriculture and markets law by adding a new section 380. Section three sets forth the effective date.
Justification
Microchipping is an effective means to reunite lost pets found by animal control officers or brought to animal shelters or other entities with their caregivers. Often the size of a grain of rice, microchips function as small transponders that require a special scanner to retrieve the pet owner's contact information. According to a study published by the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, microchipped dogs were reunited with their caregivers about 52% of the time, and microchipped cats were reunited with their caregivers about 39% of the time.
While much of the world has adopted the standard International Organization for Standardization (ISO) chip frequency of 134.2 kHz, no national microchip standard exists in the United States. This bill requires the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets to create and implement rules and regulations to standardize microchip technology.
Additionally, the bill requires that the registration of microchips and the information gathered from registration be compliant with the rules and regulations developed by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets.
Lastly, the bill requires organizations receiving a rescued, seized, captured or impounded companion animal to examine the animal within 24 hours of intake, unless surrendered by its owner, for any identifying marks, tags, or microchips. Should they discover an animal that is thought to be missing or stolen, the impounding organization should make a reasonable effort to contact the owner. Ultimately, animal shelters and veterinary offices across New York State will be relieved of the costs associated with boarding a lost companion animal, while simultaneously reuniting animals with their caregivers sooner and more often.
Legislative history
This is a new bill.
Fiscal implications
None to the State.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall become a law.
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