What's happening
This bill requires veterinarians to report suspected animal cruelty or neglect, making reporting mandatory instead of optional.
Why it matters
Shifts veterinarians’ role from optional to required reporters. By making reporting mandatory, veterinarians now have a legal obligation to alert authorities about suspected animal abuse or neglect, which could increase detection and intervention in cruelty cases.
Expands legal protections for animals. The bill ensures that more cases of animal injury or neglect are brought to law enforcement or animal welfare agencies, potentially leading to earlier rescue and better outcomes for at-risk animals.
Impacts veterinarian-patient-client confidentiality. Mandating disclosure of records to authorities may alter the traditional confidentiality relationship between veterinarians and pet owners, prioritizing animal welfare over client privacy in suspected cruelty cases.
Potential for increased legal and ethical responsibilities for veterinarians. Veterinarians may need updated training and clear protocols to identify and report suspected cruelty, as failing to report could carry professional or legal consequences under the amended law.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Vets Report Animal Abuse
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
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.
Vets Must Report Animal Abuse
In Senate Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Michael Gianaris
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1170
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 14, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL, GOTTFRIED -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to mandating the reporting of suspected animal cruelty by veterinarians
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subdivision 2 of section 6714 of the education law, as added by chapter 653 of the laws of 2003, are amended to read as follows:
(a) When a veterinarian reasonably and in good faith suspects that a companion animal's injury, illness or condition is the result of animal cruelty or a violation of any state or federal law pertaining to the care, treatment, abuse or neglect of a companion animal, the veterinarian [may] shall report the incident and disclose records concerning the companion animal's condition and treatment to the police, duly incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, peace officer, district attorney's office, animal control officer, department of agriculture and markets, other appropriate government agency, or any agent thereof.
(b) When a veterinarian reasonably believes that disclosure of records as defined in this section, is necessary to protect the health or welfare of a companion animal, a person or the public, the veterinarian [may] shall disclose such records to the police, duly incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, peace officer, animal control officer, department of agriculture and markets, other appropriate government agency, or any agent thereof.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03390-01-9
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.