What's happening
This bill amends the law to exclude companion animals from the definition of "wildlife" in New York's environmental conservation law.
Why it matters
Clarifies legal protections and regulations. By explicitly excluding companion animals (like dogs and cats) from the definition of "wildlife," the bill removes ambiguity in how these animals are treated under environmental conservation laws, potentially preventing misapplication of hunting, trapping, or wildlife management rules.
Affects enforcement and penalties. This change could impact how authorities respond to cases involving companion animals, ensuring they are handled under animal welfare laws rather than environmental conservation statutes, which could have different penalties or procedures.
Reflects societal values. The amendment signals a legislative intent to distinguish between pets (companion animals) and wild animals, aligning the law with public views that pets require different treatment and protections than wildlife.
May influence other animal-related policies. Clearly separating companion animals from wildlife in the law could set a precedent for future legislative or regulatory distinctions, affecting policy decisions in areas such as rescue operations, shelter management, and animal control.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Exclude Pets from Wildlife
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
8 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1224
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 14, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. GLICK, COLTON, GALEF, CUSICK, O'DONNELL, L. ROSENTHAL, CARROLL, OTIS, WEPRIN -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. CRESPO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to excluding certain animals from the definition of wildlife
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph a of subdivision 6 of section 11-0103 of the environmental conservation law, as amended by chapter 777 of the laws of 1976, is amended to read as follows:
a. "Wildlife" means wild game and all other animal life existing in a wild state, except companion animals as defined in section three hundred fifty of the agriculture and markets law, fish, shellfish and crustacea.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05006-01-9
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.