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A5691Assembly2019-2020 SessionSame asS1118

Increase Animal Cruelty Penalties

Official title

“Relates to enhanced penalties for aggravated cruelty to animals”

Sponsor Nicole MalliotakisAD-64+1 co-sponsorAffects Economy
Status
In Assembly Committee
Agriculture
Impact
3/10
Low
Passage
0%

Bill progress

Step 2 of 7

In committee · Agriculture

What's happening

This bill increases penalties for aggravated cruelty to animals by expanding the definition to include use of a weapon.

Why it matters

  1. Expanding the definition of "aggravated cruelty" to include acts committed with a weapon broadens the scope of what can be prosecuted as a serious offense. , potentially covering a wider range of violent acts against animals and making it easier to seek harsher penalties in such cases.

  2. By specifically naming the use of a weapon as aggravated cruelty, the bill signals a legislative intent to treat these offenses with greater severity. , which may deter violent conduct involving weapons and animals, and reflect evolving societal attitudes about animal protection.

  3. Victims of animal cruelty and their advocates could see improved justice outcomes. , as prosecutors would have clearer statutory grounds to pursue felony charges in cases involving weapons, rather than relying on more ambiguous definitions of cruelty.

  4. The law’s immediate effectivity means that changes would apply to new cases right away. , potentially impacting ongoing investigations and shaping law enforcement and prosecutorial practices as soon as it is enacted.

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Who cares

Headline styles

Increase Animal Cruelty Penalties

Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.

Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Nicole Malliotakis

Assembly Member · Assembly District 64

1 Co-sponsor

History

  1. Held for consideration in agriculture
  2. Referred to agriculture
  3. Referred to agriculture

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.

S1118Senate

Increase Animal Cruelty Penalties

In Senate Committee · Agriculture · Sponsor Andrew J. Lanza

Impact 4 · Low0% to pass

Full text

1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗

STATE OF NEW YORK

5691

2019-2020 Regular Sessions

IN ASSEMBLY

February 14, 2019

Introduced by M. of A. MALLIOTAKIS -- read once and referred to the Committee on Agriculture

AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to enhanced penalties for aggravated cruelty to animals

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 353-a of the agriculture and markets law, as added by chapter 118 of the laws of 1999, is amended to read as follows:

1. A person is guilty of aggravated cruelty to animals when, with no justifiable purpose, he or she intentionally kills or intentionally causes serious physical injury to a companion animal with aggravated cruelty. For purposes of this section, "aggravated cruelty" shall mean conduct which: (i) is intended to cause extreme physical pain or serious physical injury; [or] (ii) is done or carried out in an especially depraved or sadistic manner; or (iii) is committed with the use of a weapon.

§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD06647-01-9

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.