What's happening
This bill prohibits the sale, handling, or mistreatment of downed livestock at slaughterhouses and requires humane euthanasia or removal.
Why it matters
Directly targets animal welfare by requiring immediate humane euthanasia or veterinary removal of any livestock that cannot stand or walk, rather than allowing them to be held, traded, or processed for human food. This addresses a significant gap in current practices that often result in prolonged suffering for "downed" animals.
Specifies strict handling protocols, banning dragging or pushing of downed animals with equipment, and instead mandating the use of slings, sleds, or wheeled devices. This reduces further injury and distress, and sets a clear enforceable standard for humane treatment during transport and on-site handling.
Defines 'humane euthanasia' and 'humanely remove' in law, requiring effective, painless methods and restricting euthanasia drugs to those that ensure immediate death. This precision helps prevent inhumane practices and clarifies expectations for slaughterhouses and animal handlers.
Establishes criminal penalties (misdemeanor charges) for violations, giving the law real enforcement power and potentially deterring mistreatment. This could lead to changes in industry behavior, improving overall standards for animal welfare in New York’s livestock and meat industries.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Protect Downed Farm Animals
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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History
- Referred to agriculture
- Referred to agriculture
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1241
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 14, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to downed animals
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 96-g of the agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new subdivision 18 to read as follows:
18. "Downed animal" means any live species of cattle, sheep, goats or swine that is unable to stand and walk unassisted.
§ 2. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new section 96-k to read as follows:
§ 96-k. Downed animals. 1. No slaughterhouse, stockyard, auction market agency, or dealer shall buy, sell, or receive a downed animal or products of downed animals for human consumption.
2. No slaughterhouse, stockyard, auction market agency, or dealer shall hold a downed animal without taking immediate action to humanely euthanize the animal, or humanely remove the animal for veterinary treatment.
3. While in transit or on the premises of a slaughterhouse, stockyard, auction market agency, or dealer, a downed animal shall not be dragged at any time, or pushed with equipment at any time, but shall be moved with a sling or on a stoneboat or by other sled-like or wheeled conveyance.
4. As used in this section (a) "humanely euthanized" means to kill by chemical method or a penetrating captive bolt to the frontal part of the brain that rapidly and effectively renders the animal insensitive to pain. Chemical methods are to be restricted solely to the use of a pentobarbital solution in a concentration designed to achieve an immediate and painless death; and (b) "humanely remove" means moving a downed
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03387-01-9
A. 1241 2
animal with a sling or on a stoneboat or by other sled-like or wheeled conveyance.
5. A violation of this section shall be a misdemeanor as defined in subdivision four of section 10.00 of the penal law.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
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.