What's happening
This bill prohibits New York from issuing permits for the use of wild animals in circuses, with exceptions for accredited zoos and wildlife sanctuaries.
Why it matters
Limits animal exploitation for entertainment. By barring permits for wild animal circus acts, the bill targets the use of animals in traveling performances that often involve stressful transport, confinement, and potentially harmful training methods.
Establishes a higher welfare standard. The carve-outs for accredited zoos and wildlife sanctuaries suggest New York is distinguishing between educational/conservation uses and for-profit entertainment, encouraging institutions to meet recognized standards if they wish to exhibit wild animals.
Shifts industry practices and public expectations. This change may push circuses to adopt animal-free acts, supporting broader trends toward cruelty-free entertainment and reflecting growing public concern over animal rights.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Wild Animals in Circuses
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
11 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Ordered to third reading cal.151
- Advanced to third reading cal.496
- Reported
- Referred to environmental conservation
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.
Ban Wild Animals in Circuses
In Senate Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Monica Martinez
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3673
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 30, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT, L. ROSENTHAL, GLICK, COLTON, D'URSO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to prohibiting the issuance of permits authorizing the use of wild animals in circuses
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new section 11-0541 to read as follows: § 11-0541. Prohibition on the issuance of permits authorizing the use of
wild animals in circuses.
1. The department shall not issue a permit or license, including, but not limited to, an education or exhibition permit or an endangered or threatened species license, authorizing the exhibition of a wild animal in a circus, notwithstanding a valid United States department of agriculture license.
2. Such a prohibition shall not apply to:
a. an accredited zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums;
b. a wildlife sanctuary.
§ 2. This act shall take effect December 31, 2020.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07666-01-9
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.