What's happening
This bill requires the commissioner of agriculture and markets to develop and publish standards and guidance for therapy dogs and their handlers.
Why it matters
Creates official, statewide standards for therapy dogs and their handlers. , which could lead to more consistent quality and safety across programs that use therapy animals in schools, hospitals, and other facilities.
Requires input from multiple state agencies and stakeholders. , meaning rules will likely reflect a wide range of expertise (from animal welfare to risk management), potentially increasing their effectiveness and acceptance.
Mandates public access to the new guidance via the department’s website. , making it easier for organizations, handlers, and municipalities to comply and stay informed, and possibly increasing transparency and public trust.
Impacts municipalities that issue special tags for therapy dogs. , ensuring local governments align with state-level best practices, which could clarify legal status and reduce confusion about what qualifies as a therapy dog.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Set Standards for Therapy Dogs
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
28 Co-sponsors
- Walter T. Mosley
- Michael Blake
- Kenneth Zebrowski
- John T. McDonald III
- Michael Montesano
- Angelo J. Morinello
- Anthony D'Urso
- Linda Rosenthal
- Steven Englebright
- Aileen Gunther
- Carmen E. Arroyo
- Sandy Galef
- Felix Ortiz
- Marianne Buttenschon
- Alicia Hyndman
- Brian Manktelow
- Jaime R. Williams
- David McDonough
- Peter Lawrence
- John Salka
- Colin Schmitt
- Deborah Glick
- Marcos Crespo
- Jake Ashby
- Catalina Cruz
- Phil Steck
- Diana Richardson
- Clifford Crouch
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Substituted by S4802
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.278
- Rules report cal.278
- Reported
- Reported referred to rules
- Reported referred to ways and means
- 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.
Set Therapy Dog Standards
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Monica Martinez
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6601
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 14, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. LUPARDO, MOSLEY, BLAKE, ZEBROWSKI, McDONALD, MONTESANO, MORINELLO, D'URSO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to requiring the commissioner of agriculture and markets to identify and develop standards for therapy dogs
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 124 of the agriculture and markets law, as amended by section 22 of part T of chapter 59 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
§ 124. Powers of commissioner. The commissioner is hereby authorized to:
1. (a) promulgate, after public hearing, such rules and regulations as are necessary to supplement and give full effect to the provisions of sections one hundred thirteen, one hundred fourteen and one hundred seventeen of this article; and
(b) exercise all other powers and functions as are necessary to carry out the duties and purposes set forth in sections one hundred thirteen, one hundred fourteen and one hundred seventeen of this article.
2. in cooperation with other relevant state agencies and stakeholders identify, and develop as necessary, guidance for therapy dogs, their handlers and facilities using such dogs, including, but not limited to, assessment and training, risk management, animal welfare, and best practices for such dogs and their dog-handlers. Such guidance shall be made available on the department's website and provided to municipalities that issue special tags for therapy dogs pursuant to section one hundred eleven of this article.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10601-01-9
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.