What's happening
This bill removes the requirement that aggravated cruelty to animals involve extreme pain or depraved intent, broadening its definition.
Why it matters
Broader range of actions can now be prosecuted. By removing the requirement that aggravated cruelty involve "extreme physical pain" or "especially depraved or sadistic" actions, more cases of intentional harm or killing of companion animals could be treated as aggravated cruelty, potentially leading to more prosecutions.
Lower threshold for criminal liability. Individuals may face harsher criminal penalties for serious injury or death to companion animals even if their actions weren’t especially cruel or sadistic, making it easier for prosecutors to pursue charges.
Potential for increased deterrence. The expanded definition could discourage a wider array of harmful behaviors toward animals, as people may be less likely to intentionally harm a companion animal if they know the law more broadly punishes such acts.
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Who cares
Prosecutors
The bill would remove the requirement to prove that intentional killing or serious physical injury of a companion animal involved extreme-pain intent or especially depraved or sadistic conduct.
Companion animal owners
The bill would broaden aggravated cruelty to cover intentional killing or serious physical injury of a companion animal without a justifiable purpose, regardless of those aggravating circumstances.
People accused of animal cruelty
Conduct would qualify as aggravated cruelty without proof of intent to cause extreme physical pain or an especially depraved or sadistic manner.
Headline styles
Clarify Animal Cruelty Law
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to agriculture
- 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.
Change Animal Cruelty Definition
In Senate Committee · Agriculture · Sponsor Patty Ritchie
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6864
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 22, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. ORTIZ, ENGLEBRIGHT, DAVILA, COLTON, GLICK, TAYLOR, McDONOUGH, SANTABARBARA, GIGLIO, SEAWRIGHT, BLANKENBUSH -read once and referred to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to 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 (ii) is done or carried out in an especially depraved or sadistic manner].
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04975-01-9
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.