What's happening
This bill makes victims of certain dog attacks eligible to receive compensation from the New York crime victims board.
Why it matters
Expands eligibility for state compensation. By including victims of certain dog attacks (specifically, violations of Agriculture and Markets Law §123(7)), the bill allows more people access to financial support for medical bills, counseling, and related costs—potentially providing relief to those who previously had little recourse.
Shifts perception of dog attacks. The bill recognizes some dog attacks as serious personal harm akin to other crimes, which could influence how law enforcement, insurers, and the public view the responsibility and consequences of such incidents.
Encourages better reporting and accountability. With victims now eligible for compensation, there may be increased motivation for individuals to report dog attacks and for authorities to enforce responsible pet ownership, which could lead to improved community safety.
Potential impact on local government and insurance. By treating certain dog attacks similarly to criminal acts for compensation purposes, this change could affect municipal liability, animal control policies, and possibly insurance premiums or claims processes for dog owners.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Aid Dog Attack Victims
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to governmental operations
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–1
- Ordered to third reading cal.2162
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to crime victims, crime and correction
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4929
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 3, 2017
Introduced by Sen. DIAZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to making victims of certain dog attacks eligible for awards by the crime victims board
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 621 of the executive law, as amended by chapter 710 of the laws of 1996, is amended to read as follows:
3. "Crime" shall mean (a) an act committed in New York state which would, if committed by a mentally competent criminally responsible adult, who has no legal exemption or defense, constitute a crime as defined in and proscribed by law; [or]
(b) an act committed outside the state of New York against a resident of the state of New York which would be compensable had it occurred within the state of New York and which occurred in a state which does not have an eligible crime victim compensation program as such term is defined in the federal victims of crime act of 1984; [or]
(c) an act of terrorism, as defined in section 2331 of title 18, United States Code, committed outside of the United States against a resident of New York state; or
(d) a violation of subdivision seven of section one hundred twentythree of the agriculture and markets law.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07213-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to making victims of certain dog attacks eligible for awards by the crime victims board
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill will make innocent victims of dog attacks eligible to submit claims to the Crime Victims Board for reimbursement of medical bills and other expenses.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. Amends the Executive Law, Section 621, subdivision 3. Includes violations of Agriculture & Markets Law Section 123 (7) within the definition of "crime" for purposes of submitting claims to the Crime Victims Board.
Section 2. Effective Date
Existing law
Executive Law; Article 22, Office of Victim Services; Section 621, Defi- nitions Agriculture and Markets Law; Article 7, Licensing, Identifica- tion and Control of Dogs; Section 123, Dangerous Dogs
Justification
Americans are bitten by dogs almost five million times a year. Over 800,000 attacks require medical treatment, and more than half of the patients are children. Of those injured, 386,000 require treatment in an emergency department and about 16 die. The rate of dog bite-related injuries is highest for children ages 5 to 9 years, and the rate decreases as children age. Almost two thirds of injuries among children ages four years and younger are to the head or neck region. Injury rates in children are significantly higher for boys than for girls. However, at present many such attacks do not fit the definition of "crime" in the statute establishing the Crime Victims Board (CVB).
If an attacking dog was previously determined to be a "dangerous dog", the offense is treated as a misdemeanor and a claim can be submitted to the CVB. However, if there has been no prior formal determination of dangerousness, the offense is a violation subject only to a civil penal- ty, regardless of the seventy or circumstances of the attack. In such cases, no claims for medical bills or other expenses can be claimed by the victim (of, in the case of a child, the family).
This bill will rectify this disparity and make all dog attacks resulting in serious physical injury under § 121 eligible as "crimes" under the Executive Law definition. This will ensure that victims of these attacks have the same ability to submit claims to the Crime Victims Board as other victims.
Prior legislative history
2016: S.185 - REFERRED TO CRIME VICTIMS, CRIME AND CORRECTION 2015: S.185 - REFERRED TO CRIME VICTIMS, CRIME AND CORRECTION 2014: S.15 - Referred to Crime Victims, Crime and Correction 2013: S.15 - Referred to Crime Victims, Crime and Correction 2012: S.316 - Referred to Crime Victims, Crime and Correction 2011: S.316 - Defeated in Crime Victims, Crime and Correction 2010: S.3095 - Reported and Committed to Finance/A.8605 - Held for Consideration in Governmental Operations 2009: S.3095- Advanced to Third Reading/A.8605 - Referred to Govern- mental Operations 2007-08: S.4010 - Passed Senate/A.6944 - Reported, Referred to Ways and Means 2005-06: A.4185A Referred to Governmental Operations 2004: S.6062 - Referred to the Crime Victims, Crime & Corrections/ A. 9602 - Referred to Governmental Operations Committee
Fiscal implications
No adverse fiscal Impacts - any claims will be considered in the same manner and pursuant to the same appropriations as all other claims submitted to the CVB.
Effective date
90th day after enactment.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.